disbursement
disbursement
Pronunciation
/dɪsˈbɜːrsmənt/
dis: /dɪs/
/d/ as in "dog"
/ɪ/ as in "bit"
/s/ as in "sit"
burse: /bɜːrs/
/b/ as in "ball"
/ɜː/ as in "bird" (British English pronunciation) or /ɝː/ (American English pronunciation - the 'r' is more pronounced).
/r/ as in "run"
/s/ as in "sit"
ment: /mənt/
/m/ as in "man"
/ə/ as in "about" (schwa sound)
/n/ as in "nice"
/t/ as in "top"
Word Form Variations
Singular: disbursement
Plural: disbursements
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun:
Definition 1 (General): The act of paying out or distributing money; the money that is paid out.
Synonyms: payment, expenditure, outlay, distribution, remittance, allocation, dispensation
Antonyms: receipt, collection, deposit, accrual, accumulation, retention
Definition 2 (Accounting/Finance): A specific instance of funds being paid out from an account or fund.
Synonyms: transaction, payment, withdrawal, release of funds
Antonyms: deposit, credit, inflow, investment
Example Sentences:
The disbursement of funds was delayed due to a clerical error. (Definition 1)
The monthly disbursements for salaries are processed on the last day of the month. (Definition 2)
We received a detailed report of all disbursements made during the quarter. (Definition 2)
Examples of Use
News/Online Publications:
"The government announced the disbursement of emergency aid to flood-stricken regions." (Hypothetical news report, reflecting common usage)
"Investors are awaiting the disbursement of dividends." (Financial news, common usage)
"Delays in the disbursement of funds have stalled the project." (Project management/development news, common usage)
Books:
"The disbursement of the inheritance was a complex legal matter." (Fiction/legal thriller, common usage)
"The bookkeeper meticulously recorded each disbursement in the ledger." (Historical fiction/business context, common usage)
"Grant proposals are evaluated before disbursement of funds." (Non-fiction, academic/funding context, common usage)
Financial/Business Contexts (Examples, not direct quotes):
"Payroll disbursements are processed on the 15th and 30th of each month." (Business operations, common usage)
"The company's annual report details all major disbursements." (Financial reporting, common usage)
"The disbursement of venture capital is contingent on meeting certain milestones." (Investment/finance, common usage)
Legal Contexts (Examples, not direct quotes):
"The court ordered the disbursement of assets in the divorce settlement." (Legal proceedings, common usage)
"The trustee oversaw the disbursement of funds from the trust." (Estate management/legal, common usage)
General Public Discourse (Examples, not direct quotes):
"I'm waiting for the disbursement of my tax refund." (Personal finance, common usage)
"There was some confusion about the disbursement of the prize money." (Contests/giveaways, common usage)
10 Famous Quotes Using Disbursement
“Power is revealed in the disbursement of resources, not their accumulation.” (Unknown)
“My mentor said character shows in the disbursement of time, attention, and respect.” (Unknown)
“History teaches that unjust disbursement of wealth breeds revolt.” (Unknown)
“A poet wrote that love is the generous disbursement of the heart.” (Unknown)
“Leadership requires wise disbursement of energy, not endless exertion.” (Unknown)
“Revolutions begin when the disbursement of opportunity becomes unequal.” (Unknown)
“Success demands careful disbursement of effort toward what truly matters.” (Unknown)
“Hope grows through the daily disbursement of small acts of courage.” (Unknown)
“Trust is maintained through the fair disbursement of truth.” (Unknown)
“A community thrives through the collective disbursement of generosity.” (Unknown)
Etymology
"Disbursement" comes from two main parts:
"dis-": This prefix means "apart," "away," or "completely." Think of words like "disappear" (to vanish completely) or "distribute" (to divide and give out).
"burse": This part comes from the Latin word "bursa," which means "purse" or "bag." It's related to words like "bursar" (a person who manages funds) and "reimburse" (to pay back money).
So, if we put it together, "disbursement" literally means "the act of taking money out of the purse" or "the act of paying away money."
While pinpointing the very first use of the word is difficult, it's safe to say it has been used in financial and administrative contexts for centuries, likely as soon as the concept of organized finances existed. Its earliest meanings were closely tied to the practical act of paying out money from a fund or account. It wouldn't have had any significantly different, metaphorical, or unrelated meanings. It's always been about the distribution of funds.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Disbursement
Attempts at phrases (mostly constructed examples):
"The disbursement of funds is the lifeblood of any project." (This uses "disbursement" metaphorically, but it's not a common idiom.)
"A delay in disbursement can be a fatal blow to a small business." (Again, a metaphorical use, but not an established phrase.)
"Disbursement day is payday!" (A very informal, almost jocular attempt, but not a real idiom.)
Phrases using synonyms (that capture the idea):
"The release of funds..." (This gets closer to the core meaning and is more commonly used.)
"The payment of debts..." (Focuses on the action of paying out, a key aspect of disbursement.)
"The distribution of resources..." (Broader, but still related to the idea of giving out something valuable.)
Original, more metaphorical attempts (playing on the idea of disbursement):
"The disbursement of hope." (This uses "disbursement" metaphorically to suggest spreading hope, but it's highly unusual.)
"A generous disbursement of smiles." (Again, a metaphorical extension, not a common phrase.)
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of disbursement from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
