ex·pense 
/ɪkˈspɛns/ noun
plural ex·pens·es /ɪkˈspɛns/ noun 1 [noncount] : the amount of money that is needed to pay for or buy something
▪ I'd like to save the time and expense [=cost] of redoing the whole thing. ▪ I don't think a first-class ticket is worth the added/extra expense. — often used after at ▪ These items were imported at great/considerable/enormous expense. [=it cost a lot to import them] ▪ We were able to fix the problem at very little expense. [=for very little money] ▪ The repairs were made at no expense to us. [=without costing us anything] — see also at someone's expense (below) ◊If you spare no expense, you spend as much money as you need to in order to make something as good as possible.
▪ When they go on vacation, they spare no expense. ▪ They spared no expense in building the house. 2 [count] : an amount of money that must be spent especially regularly to pay for something
▪ The annual fee is simply an expense of doing business. — usually plural ▪ Their expenses [=expenditures] were getting far ahead of their income. ▪ We need to find a way to control expenses. ▪ cutting back on expenses ▪ legal/medical/household expenses [=costs] ▪ I'm concerned about the project's hidden expenses. ▪ You'll have to pay your own travel/traveling expenses. ▪ an all-expenses paid trip [=a journey for which all costs are already paid] 3 [count] : something on which money is spent
▪ A new car is a major expense. ▪ My new computer was a business expense. [=something I had to buy in order to do business]
▪ I'd like to save the time and expense [=cost] of redoing the whole thing. ▪ I don't think a first-class ticket is worth the added/extra expense. — often used after at ▪ These items were imported at great/considerable/enormous expense. [=it cost a lot to import them] ▪ We were able to fix the problem at very little expense. [=for very little money] ▪ The repairs were made at no expense to us. [=without costing us anything] — see also at someone's expense (below) ◊If you spare no expense, you spend as much money as you need to in order to make something as good as possible.
▪ When they go on vacation, they spare no expense. ▪ They spared no expense in building the house.
▪ The annual fee is simply an expense of doing business. — usually plural ▪ Their expenses [=expenditures] were getting far ahead of their income. ▪ We need to find a way to control expenses. ▪ cutting back on expenses ▪ legal/medical/household expenses [=costs] ▪ I'm concerned about the project's hidden expenses. ▪ You'll have to pay your own travel/traveling expenses. ▪ an all-expenses paid trip [=a journey for which all costs are already paid]
▪ A new car is a major expense. ▪ My new computer was a business expense. [=something I had to buy in order to do business]
at someone's expense 1 : paid for by someone
▪ a fancy dinner at my parents' expense ▪ a stadium built at the taxpayers' expense = a stadium built at taxpayer expense [=with money from taxes] ▪ The tour is free, but all meals are at your own expense. [=you must pay for your meals] 2 ◊If someone makes a joke about you or laughs at you, the joke or laughter is said to be at your expense.
▪ Everyone had a good laugh at my expense.
▪ a fancy dinner at my parents' expense ▪ a stadium built at the taxpayers' expense = a stadium built at taxpayer expense [=with money from taxes] ▪ The tour is free, but all meals are at your own expense. [=you must pay for your meals]
▪ Everyone had a good laugh at my expense.
at the expense of
: in a way that harms (something or someone)
▪ Malls flourished at the expense of small stores downtown. ▪ She acquired power at the expense of friendships. ▪ He argues that the tax cut will benefit the rich at the expense of the poor.
▪ Malls flourished at the expense of small stores downtown. ▪ She acquired power at the expense of friendships. ▪ He argues that the tax cut will benefit the rich at the expense of the poor.
go to (the) expense
: to spend money on something
▪ Why go to the expense of installing something you'll never use? ▪ She went to great expense to have this party.
▪ Why go to the expense of installing something you'll never use? ▪ She went to great expense to have this party.
