line item

noun

: an appropriation that is itemized on a separate line in a budget
line-item
ˈlīn-ˈī-təm How to pronounce line item (audio)
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.
Some of the line items on the Whitfield invoices had nothing to do with the Whitfield case. — Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 Oct. 2026 When employers can close that gap, benefits become more than a line item on a paycheck. — Orla Nixon, Fortune, 26 Oct. 2026 That means treating early-career roles as a development investment with a return that’s measured in years, not as a line item to be trimmed each quarter. — Tim Brackney, Forbes.com, 26 Oct. 2026 Expenses will also be a key line item as Capital One management continues to invest aggressively in integrating Discover and Brex. — Jeff Marks, CNBC, 20 Oct. 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

Line Islands
line item
line-item veto
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Line item.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/line%20item. Accessed 1 Nov. 2026.

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