disburse

[dis-burs]

verb (used with object)

disbursed, disbursing 

1. to pay out (money), especially for expenses; expend.

   Synonyms: lay out

2. to distribute or scatter.

   Our troops were disbursed over a wide area. She disbursed the flowers to the children.

disburse

/ dɪsˈbɜːs /

verb

1. (tr) to pay out

Usage

Disburse is sometimes wrongly used where disperse is meant: the police used a water cannon to disperse (not disburse ) the crowd

Other Word Forms

• disbursable adjective
• disburser noun
• nondisbursable adjective
• nondisbursed adjective
• redisburse verb (used with object)
• undisbursed adjective
• well-disbursed adjective
• disbursement noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of disburse¹

First recorded in 1520–30; from Middle French desbourser, Old French desborser, equivalent to des- dis- ¹ + -borser, derivative of borse purse, from Late Latin bursa “bag”

Word History and Origins

Origin of disburse¹

C16: from Old French desborser, from des- _dis- ¹ + borser to obtain money, from borse bag, from Late Latin bursa

Synonym Study

See spend.

Example Sentences

That’s only a “very, very small percentage” of total aid that’s disbursed at California’s community colleges, according to officials from the chancellor’s office.

From Los Angeles Times

To disburse the crowd, pepper spray was used.

From Los Angeles Times

Dame Clare Moriarty, chief executive of the charity, Citizens Advice, said she would like to see the sector work quickly to disburse compensation to the worst affected.

From BBC

Company money was disbursed to Andrew Wiederhorn and his family “for their personal benefit,” according to the indictment.

From Los Angeles Times

As a SAG-AFTRA franchisee, KMR — which is now permanently closed — was required to hold funds from production companies in trust and disburse the money to the actors “promptly,” meaning within seven business days.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• contribute 
• dispense 
• distribute 
• expend 
• pony up 

When To Use

What does disburse mean?

Disburse most commonly means to pay out money.Disburse is typically used in the context of finance and business—especially when the exchange of money is formal.The noun form of disburse is disbursement, meaning the act of paying out money, or the payment itself.Disburse can also mean to distribute or scatter, but this sense is much less commonly used. (This sense sounds a lot like and means just about the same thing as disperse.)Example: The staff is upset because payroll hasn’t disbursed paychecks yet due to a clerical error.