What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Dispensed vs Disbursed - What's the difference?

dispensed | disbursed |

As verbs the difference between dispensed and disbursed

is that dispensed is (dispense) while disbursed is (disburse).

dispensed

English

Verb

(head)
  • (dispense)

  • dispense

    English

    Verb

  • To issue, distribute, or put out.
  • * Sir Walter Scott
  • He is delighted to dispense a share of it to all the company.
  • * 1955 , William Golding, The Inheritors , Faber and Faber 2005, p.40:
  • The smoky spray seemed to trap whatever light there was and to dispense it subtly.
  • To apply, as laws to particular cases; to administer; to execute; to manage; to direct.
  • to dispense justice
  • * Dryden
  • While you dispense the laws, and guide the state.
  • To supply or make up a medicine or prescription.
  • The pharmacist dispensed my tablets.
    An optician can dispense spectacles.
  • To eliminate or do without; used intransitively with with .
  • I wish he would dispense with the pleasantries and get to the point.
  • (obsolete) To give a dispensation to (someone); to excuse.
  • * , II.34:
  • After his victories, he often gave them the reines to all licenciousnesse, for a while dispencing them from all rules of military discipline.
  • * Macaulay
  • It was resolved that all members of the House who held commissions, should be dispensed from parliamentary attendance.
  • * Johnson
  • He appeared to think himself born to be supported by others, and dispensed from all necessity of providing for himself.
  • (obsolete) To compensate; to make up; to make amends.
  • * Spenser
  • One loving hour / For many years of sorrow can dispense .
  • * Gower
  • His sin was dispensed / With gold, whereof it was compensed.

    Derived terms

    * dispensary * dispenser

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (obsolete) Cost, expenditure.
  • (obsolete) The act of dispensing, dispensation.
  • * , II.xii:
  • what euer in this worldly state / Is sweet, and pleasing vnto liuing sense, / Or that may dayntiest fantasie aggrate, / Was poured forth with plentifull dispence [...].

    disbursed

    English

    Verb

    (head)
  • (disburse)

  • disburse

    English

    Verb

    (disburs)
  • (finance) To pay out, expend; usually from a public fund or treasury.
  • Usage notes

    * Do not confuse with the scattering word disperse, despite similarity.

    Synonyms

    (to pay out) shell out (informal), cough up (informal), fork out (informal), fork over (informal)

    Derived terms

    * disbursement