expenditures

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "expenditures" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to the amount of money that has been used to acquire or provide something. Example sentence: The city council was held responsible for all expenditures related to the new park.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The brilliance of the Graetz plan is that no tax expenditures need to be repealed.

The New York Times

But the fact that more than fifteen per cent of personal consumption expenditures now go to medical care, when in 1930 only three per cent of personal consumption did, isn't a reflection of frivolity, and that's not going to change any time soon.

The Economist

Under FEC law, anyone employed by a formal campaign must undergo a 120-day waiting period before engaging with independent expenditures.

The Guardian

And it is always hard to trim tax expenditures such as the mortgage interest deduction and state and local tax preferences – especially now, at a moment when the economy is still recovering from a housing-led downturn and state and local governments still face significant deficits that need to be closed.

The Guardian

A combination of softness in the economy and reductions in MGNREGA expenditures (declines of 3 and 36% in the last two years) have played a key role.

The Guardian

Don't talk about how you run Art Club – that is, don't talk about your risks, your losses and definitely don't discuss your eccentric shortcuts or the expenditures that ultimately win you a customer base.

The Guardian - Opinion

Unlike the US, Japan and Korea, where golf is a sport of the leisured middle class, in China high membership fees, equipment costs and associated expenditures make it very much a privilege of the rich.

The Guardian

Just before the second world war, with rearmament consuming vast government expenditures, estate duty contributed almost 15% of total tax raised, compared with less than 2% today.

The Guardian - Money

The company said it planned to raise some tens of millions of dollars with the share issue, many times its current annual expenditures and about a third of its overall market cap.

The Economist

Its capital expenditures have skyrocketed from $2.3 billion in 1992 to an estimated $9 billion this year, mostly to upgrade its long-distance network, which is shabbier than those of younger firms such as WorldCom.Having to depend on your chief competitor as any reseller must is not an attractive position.

The Economist

Across all measures of seniority, the declines are large and highly significant....The coefficient implies a 1.2% drop in scaled capital expenditures.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider using more specific terms like "capital expenditures" or "research expenditures" to provide greater detail and clarity.

Common error

While both terms relate to spending, "expenditures" often refers to larger, more formal outlays, particularly by organizations or governments. "Expenses" can refer to smaller, more individual costs. Use "expenditures" for formal contexts and reserved "expenses" for informal ones.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "expenditures" is that of a noun, typically functioning as the subject or object of a sentence. According to Ludwig AI, the word is correct and usable in written English to refer to the amount of money that has been used to acquire or provide something.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Formal & Business

30%

Science

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "expenditures" functions as a noun denoting financial outlays, often used in formal contexts such as business and news reporting. According to Ludwig AI, the term is grammatically correct and widely used. While alternatives like "spending" and "outlays" exist, "expenditures" provides a more formal and precise connotation. It's crucial to differentiate it from "expenses", which generally refers to smaller, individual costs. As evidenced by the numerous examples, particularly from news sources like The Economist and The Guardian, "expenditures" is a very common term for discussing financial matters.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

spending

Focuses more generally on the act of using funds.

outlays

Implies a specific allocation or disbursement of money.

disbursements

Suggests a formal or official release of funds.

expenses

Refers to the cost incurred for something, often in a business context.

costs

A broader term encompassing all types of financial burdens or sacrifices.

payments

Emphasizes the act of transferring money in exchange for goods or services.

investments

Implies spending with the expectation of future returns or benefits.

financial commitments

Highlights obligations to spend money.

capital investments

Specifically refers to spending on long-term assets or infrastructure.

operational costs

Focuses on the day-to-day expenses required to run a business or organization.

FAQs

How do I use "expenditures" in a sentence?

"Expenditures" refers to the act of spending funds. You can use it in sentences like, "The company's capital "expenditures" increased this year" or "Government "expenditures" on education have been declining."

What's the difference between "expenditures" and "expenses"?

While both terms relate to spending, "expenditures" typically refers to larger, more formal outlays, especially by organizations or governments. "Expenses" is often used for smaller, more individual costs.

What are some alternatives to "expenditures"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "spending", "outlays", "disbursements", or "costs". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "expenditures" a formal word?

Yes, "expenditures" is generally considered a formal term. It is often used in business, finance, and government contexts to refer to the act of spending money.