indirect cost

noun

: a cost that is not identifiable with a specific product, function, or activity

Examples of indirect cost in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Treatment can be costly, and indirect costs – such as the effects on a community’s workforce – can also be substantial. Evan MacDonald, Houston Chronicle, 28 Mar. 2026 That adds up to indirect costs to consumers, through the health and climate effects of burning more fuel, and direct pocketbook costs too; buying more gasoline magnifies the effect of price hikes. Camila Domonoske, NPR, 23 Mar. 2026 UConn has paused the distribution of fiscal year 2025 indirect cost reimbursements scheduled for December 2025. Sara Bedigian, Hartford Courant, 28 Feb. 2026 According to documents shared by board member Sara Knizhnik, firearm injuries generate tens of billions of dollars of direct and indirect costs in Illinois annually. Joseph States, Chicago Tribune, 11 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for indirect cost

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1909, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of indirect cost was circa 1909

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Indirect cost.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/indirect%20cost. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster