Disburse / Reimburse / Refund
Different meaningsDisburse means pay out approved funds; reimburse means repay an expense already incurred; refund means return money previously paid or collected.
Disburse
Use when
An organisation formally pays out approved funds from an account or programme.
Example
“The agency will disburse the grant after accepting the agreement.”
Reimburse
Use when
You are repaying someone for an eligible expense they have already incurred.
Example
“The department will reimburse officers for approved travel expenses.”
Refund
Use when
You are returning money that someone previously paid, such as an overpayment or payment for a cancelled service.
Example
“The agency will refund the excess application fee.”
Quick check
reimburse the grant, refund a travel claim, disburse an overpayment
Usage note
Financial rules may give these terms narrower accounting meanings. Follow the governing scheme or finance instructions when recording a transaction.