Definition of reimburse

The word "reimburse" originated from the Middle French term "rembourser," which literally translates to "pay again." This term emerged during the thirteenth century, where it was used in commercial transactions to describe the action of compensating someone for a previously paid expense. The word made its way into the English language in the sixteenth century, with the spelling "remyssoune" and later "remebourne." As commerce and financial contractual agreements became more prevalent in the English-speaking world, the term "reimburse" became widely used in everyday business dealings. In its simplest form, reimbursement is the act of restoring or repaying an expense that was incurred by an individual or entity. This term is commonly used in insurance policies, where the insured party is compensated for the costs incurred due to certain events, such as a medical procedure, car accident, or natural disaster. In summary, the word "reimburse" is derived from the Middle French "rembourser," and it refers to the action of settling an expense that has already been paid. The word's linguistic background reflects its historical use in commercial settings where repayment of expenses was a necessary part of business dealings. Today, the term is commonly used in various contexts, including insurance policies, financial contracts, and many other industries where expense disbursement and compensation are part of regular operations.