What does reimbursed mean?
Reimbursed is the past tense and past participle of reimburse, a verb meaning to repay someone for money they have spent or for a loss they have incurred. The expression is especially common in workplaces and organizations that cover travel, meals, supplies, or other approved costs. For example, an employee may be reimbursed for a taxi fare after submitting a receipt, while a volunteer may be reimbursed for materials purchased for a community project. “Fully reimbursed” indicates that the whole qualifying expense has been paid back; “partly reimbursed” indicates that only some amount is covered. The word often appears in administrative and financial contexts rather than casual conversation. Its main implication is that the original payment was made by someone else and is now being settled, although reimbursement does not always happen immediately or completely. In legal and insurance contexts, the term can also mean compensation for a documented loss rather than repayment of a purchase.
To repay someone for money they have spent, especially an expense paid on behalf of another person or organization.
"The charity reimbursed the volunteers for their travel costs."
Often used with expenses, costs, or an identifiable recipient.
Having been paid back for an expense or loss.
"Her airfare was reimbursed in full."
This form typically appears as a predicate adjective or in phrases such as “reimbursed expenses.”
Reimbursed means the expense may have been yours, but the bill does not have to be.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does reimbursed come from?
The word comes from reimburse, which was formed in the 16th century from the prefix re-, meaning “again,” and imburse, meaning “to put into a purse.” Imburse derives through French from Latinimbursare, based on bursa, the Latin word for a purse or pouch. The same Latin root ultimately underlies the English word purse.
Related word forms
How reimbursed is actually used
The term is common in business, employment, insurance, travel, and institutional contexts. It usually implies repayment of a documented or otherwise verifiable expense.
Easily confused with reimbursed
Reimbursed money is paid back to someone who has already spent it, whereas disbursed money is paid out by an organization, usually before or as an expense is incurred.