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.
Broadcast revenue is the biggest line item, with next season’s 20th-place Premier League club in line for a $165 million payout from the league, according to Sportico estimates. Kurt Badenhausen, Sportico.com, 22 May 2026 This shifts the spend from an optional line item to a critical bottom-line optimizer. Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 20 May 2026 City Council must work with the City Attorney’s Office to aggressively combat line items that do not benefit District 2 residents. David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 May 2026 In today’s environment, geopolitical risk doesn’t sit above the line item. Catherine Nekavand, Footwear News, 7 May 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 29 May. 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