disburse

Everyday

(formal) To disburse money is to pay it out, usually from a fund or by an organisation, government or bank. tree →

In the lessons

A formal, official word used in business, government and exam-style questions about money: a charity disburses grants, a school disburses prize money. In maths problems it means the money leaves the fund, so the amount in the fund goes down. Phrases: disburse funds, disburse payments.

Examples

• The charity disbursed money to families who lost their homes. tree →
• The council will disburse the funds next month. tree →
• The club treasurer disburses money for team trips. tree →
• A total of 600 dollars was disbursed equally among 4 schools. tree →
• The bank disbursed the loan to the farmer. tree →
• After the fair, the money was disbursed to three charities. tree →

Note

Formal; in everyday speech say «pay out» or «give out». Noun: disbursement. Do not confuse with «disperse» (spread out in different directions). In maths: «a fund of 600, 150 disbursed» leaves 600 − 150 = 450; «disbursed equally among 4» means divide (600 ÷ 4 = 150 each).