Defray

Quick meaning: Defray is a verb meaning To pay or discharge (a debt, expense etc.); to meet (the cost of something).

Meaning

To pay or discharge (a debt, expense etc.); to meet (the cost of something).

More Meanings

1. (archaic) To pay for (something).
2. (obsolete) To spend (money).

Example Sentences

In order to help defray the substantial costs involved, they then raised revenue through taking advertisements.

The expenses of the war, while in progress, were defrayed by executing rich men and confiscating their property.

Investors, meanwhile, got back a fraction of their money. Some say Mr Meinl’s €100m bail, paid by a source in Liechtenstein, should be used to defray their losses.

With his legal maneuverings, Trump is showing that he also understands the implications of this election — one that could give him substantial powers as president to defray or dismiss many of the legal threats that he’s facing and to behave in office without future accountability.

Word Forms

• defrays
• defraying
• defrayed

Synonyms for defray

Depending on context, synonyms include finance, fray, offset.

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include reimburse, repay, compensate, paying, provide, pay.

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