zero-base

ze·ro-base

(zîr′ō-bās′, zē′rō-) or ze·ro-based (-bāst′)adj. Having each expenditure or item justified as to need or cost: "Zero-base budgeting requires its practitioners to justify every dollar they spend" (Wall Street Journal).

zero-base

or

zero-based

adj (Accounting & Book-keeping) accounting relating to a form of budgeting in which items are considered in their own right and not with reference to previous expenditurevb (tr) US to apply zero-base principles to (a question, issue, etc)

ze′ro-base`

or ze′ro-based`,



adj. according to present needs only, without reference to previous practice: zero-base budgeting. [1965–70]