line item

noun

: an appropriation that is itemized on a separate line in a budget
line-item adjective

Examples of line item 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.
PSyn’s role in that process, Jones says, is to help organizations see the full picture, so decisions are informed by structure, data, and context rather than isolated line items. Lyssanoel Frater, USA Today, 13 Feb. 2026 How to read charges on your utility bills The big line items on your bill are in two parts. John Shumway, CBS News, 11 Feb. 2026 Romance, suddenly, feels like a budget line item. Ana Gutierrez, Austin American Statesman, 11 Feb. 2026 This isn’t about defending a line item on a bill. Lisa Mallozzi, Sun Sentinel, 10 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for line item

Word History

First Known Use

1962, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of line item was in 1962

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Line item.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/line%20item. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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