What does itemise mean?
To itemise means to list something as a series of separate entries rather than treating it as a single whole. The word is especially common in relation to expenses, invoices, budgets, inventories, and other detailed accounts: an organisation may itemise its costs to show how a total is divided among particular categories. The verb carries a clear administrative or documentary tone, suggesting careful organisation and transparency, although it can sound more formal than everyday alternatives such as “list” or “enumerate.” In British English the usual spelling is “itemise”; in American English it is “itemize.” Its related noun, “itemisation” or “itemization,” names the process or the result of producing such a list. Although often used with financial and business material, the word is not limited to money: a catalogue, contract, travel itinerary, or research report can all be itemised.
verbTo list or enumerate things individually, especially items in a collection, bill, or set of costs. It means to present the separate components clearly rather than describing them collectively.
- To list or enumerate individual items, especially as separate charges, components, or entries.
"The report itemises every expense so that readers can see exactly where the funding was spent."
"The travel company itemised the cost of the journey for each passenger."
"The catalogue itemises the collection according to artist and period."
To itemise is to turn a general statement into a precise, checkable list: useful for budgets, inventories, schedules, and anything that demands accountability.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does itemise come from?
“Itemise” was formed in English by adding the suffix “-ise” to “item.” “Item” comes through French from Latin “item,” meaning “thing” or “piece,” and ultimately refers to a distinct member of a list or collection. The verb developed from this sense of an individual item, while the suffix “-ise” was borrowed from the model of French verbs ending in “-iser.”
Related word forms
How itemise is actually used
The word is formal and especially common in financial, administrative, and legal contexts. British English generally uses “itemise,” while American English generally uses “itemize.”
Easily confused with itemise
“Itemize” is the American spelling of the same verb; both forms mean to list individual items.
An “item” is one member of a list or collection, whereas “itemise” is the verb describing the act of listing those members.