Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense defrays, present participle defraying, past tense, past participle defrayed
verb
If you defray someone's costs or expenses, you give them money which represents the amount that they have spent, for example while they have been doing something for you or acting on your behalf.
[formal]
The government has committed billions toward defraying the costs of the war. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: pay, meet, cover, clear More Synonyms of defray
defray in British English
(dɪˈfreɪ)
verb
(transitive)
to furnish or provide money for (costs, expenses, etc); pay
Derived forms
defrayable (deˈfrayable)
adjective
defrayal (deˈfrayal) or defrayment (deˈfrayment)
noun
defrayer (deˈfrayer)
noun
Word origin
C16: from Old French deffroier to pay expenses, from de-dis-1 + frai expenditure, originally: cost incurred through breaking something, from Latin frangere to break
defray in American English
(diˈfreɪ; dɪˈfreɪ)
verb transitive
to pay or furnish the money for (the cost or expenses)
Derived forms
defrayable (deˈfrayable)
adjective
defrayal (deˈfrayal)
noun or deˈfrayment
Word origin
Fr défrayer < OFr defraier < de- (L de), from, off + *frai (Fr frais, pl.), expense, cost, “damages,” prob. < L fractum, neut. pp. of frangere, to break
Examples of 'defray' in a sentence
defray
Something she should have thought of years ago to defray the stresses of summer.
Dreyer, Eileen BAD MEDICINE (1995)
(verb)
Definition
to provide money to cover costs or expenses
The government has committed billions toward defraying the costs of the war.
Synonyms
pay
If you cannot pay your debts, you can file for bankruptcy.
meet
The government will help meet some of the costs.
cover
clear
settle
I settled the bill for my coffee and his two glasses of wine.
discharge
The goods will be sold in order to discharge the debt.
Additional synonyms
in the sense of discharge
Definition
to relieve oneself of (a debt)
The goods will be sold in order to discharge the debt.
Synonyms
pay,
meet,
clear,
settle,
square (up),
honour,
satisfy,
relieve,
liquidate
in the sense of meet
Definition
to pay for (something)
The government will help meet some of the costs.
Synonyms
pay for,
clear,
settle,
square,
honour,
satisfy,
account for,
discharge
in the sense of settle
Definition
to pay off (a bill or debt)
I settled the bill for my coffee and his two glasses of wine.