major expenditure

USAGE SUMMARY

"major expenditure" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It generally refers to large sums of money, and so can often be used in a financial context. For example, "The company has made several major expenditures this fiscal year."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

20 human-written examples

Handling and transport are a major expenditure.

Independent

The major expenditure related to VSLAs is staff costs.

The Guardian

But they are still for sale, and Fukudome's $48 million has so far been the only major expenditure this winter.

The New York Times

As economies stumble, major expenditure cuts are made, bonuses increase for the wealthy and mass unemployment returns, questions are raised about the very nature of market economies.

The Guardian

The company is planning major expenditure on aircraft but HSBC said: Capital expenditure and dividends are not incompatible: we model the company returning over £3bn in dividends from 2014 to 2020, whilst funding this proposed fleet plan.

The Guardian - Business

Cheap as admission was, getting out to Coney on the Iron Steamboat Company or the New York and Sea Beach Railroad was still a major expenditure for much of the city's working people.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

37 human-written examples

"But no major expenditures," he added.

The New York Times

"If it can be done without major expenditures, it has a chance".

The New York Times

The stalemate had blocked several major expenditures considered crucial by each state.

The New York Times

Reviewing management policies and comparison-shopping for major expenditures can also keep the budget down.

The New York Times

The commission must bring major expenditures to a vote of residents of its members, which are Bloomfield, East Hartford, Hartford, Newington, Rocky Hill, West Hartford, Wethersfield and Windsor.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing financial reports or budgets, use "major expenditure" to clearly indicate significant costs. For example, "The company's marketing campaign represented a "major expenditure" this quarter".

Common error

Avoid using "expense" and "expenditure" interchangeably. While related, "expenditure" refers to the act of spending, while "expense" refers to the cost itself. Thus, use "major expenditure" to describe the action and its significance.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "major expenditure" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject, object, or complement in a sentence. It denotes a significant financial outlay. As Ludwig indicates, it refers to large sums of money, often in a financial context.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

25%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "major expenditure" is a noun phrase indicating a significant financial outlay. Ludwig confirms that it's a correct and usable phrase, typically used in financial contexts. With a neutral to professional register, the phrase is commonly found in News & Media and Scientific sources. Alternatives include "significant expense" and "considerable outlay". When using this phrase, be mindful of potential confusion with "expense" and its correct application to describe substantial spending activities. The high expert rating underscores the phrase's grammatical correctness, source authority, and consistent usage.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

significant expense

Replaces "expenditure" with "expense" and "major" with "significant", slightly altering the formality.

considerable outlay

Substitutes "major expenditure" with "considerable outlay", providing a more formal tone.

substantial investment

Replaces "expenditure" with "investment", shifting the connotation towards a potentially beneficial expense.

large spending

Uses the verb form "spending" instead of the noun "expenditure", making the phrase less formal.

sizeable cost

Replaces "expenditure" with "cost" and "major" with "sizeable", creating a more direct expression.

principal disbursement

Offers a more formal and technical alternative, replacing "major" with "principal" and "expenditure" with "disbursement".

key expense

Emphasizes the importance of the expense rather than its size, using "key" instead of "major".

primary expense

Highlights the main expense, substituting "major" for "primary".

notable expenditure

Uses "notable" instead of "major", highlighting that the expenditure is worth mentioning or significant.

significant spending

Similar to "large spending" but emphasizes the importance through "significant".

FAQs

How can I use "major expenditure" in a sentence?

You can use "major expenditure" to describe significant spending in various contexts. For example, "The construction of the new bridge was a "major expenditure" for the city".

What are some alternatives to the phrase "major expenditure"?

Some alternatives include "significant expense", "considerable outlay", or "substantial investment", depending on the specific context and nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "major expenditure" or "large expense"?

Both are correct, but "major expenditure" often implies a formal context, while "large expense" is more general. Use "major expenditure" when discussing budgets, financial reports, or official spending. Consider something like "sizeable cost".

What's the difference between "major expenditure" and "capital expenditure"?

"Major expenditure" refers to a significant expense, while "capital expenditure" specifically refers to spending on fixed assets like property, equipment, or infrastructure. A capital expenditure is often a "major expenditure", but not all major expenditures are capital expenditures.