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Definition of disburse

disburse

/dɪsˈbɝːs/
dis · burse
Adjective:disbursable
•
Past Simple:disbursed
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Past Participle:disbursed
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Present Participle:disbursing
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disburse Lexical Profile

disburse Game Scores & Validity

• verb

1

To pay out or distribute money, especially from a dedicated fund or public account.

Example

"The university financial aid office will disburse the scholarship funds at the start of the semester."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for disburse
Antonyms
View all antonyms for disburse

Word Nuance & Usage

Often confused with its near-homophone 'disperse'; 'disburse' specifically means to pay out money from a fund, whereas 'disperse' means to scatter or distribute over a wide area.

• Rhymes for disburse

• Nearby Words

disbeliever
disbelievingly
disbursal
disburse
disbursement
discard
discardable

Word Origin & Etymology

Borrowed in the early 16th century from Middle French débourser, literally meaning 'to take out of a purse', from dis- ('out') and bourse ('purse'), which derives from Medieval Latin bursa ('leather bag').

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Disburse. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/disburse
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