English UsageComparison guide
Disburse vs. Disperse
“Disburse” and “disperse” have different meanings. Disburse is the finance-related verb for paying out money, while disperse concerns spreading, scattering, or separating people or things.
Use “disburse” for paying out money; use “disperse” for spreading or scattering.
Key details
Confusion Familylexical-similarity
Rule Familyword-choice
Termsdisburse, disperse
Further guidance
Core difference
“Disburse” means to pay out money, usually from funds held for a purpose; “disperse” means to spread, scatter, or cause people or things to separate.
Usage Boundary
Funds are disbursed when they are paid out; people, crowds, particles, or objects can disperse when they spread or separate.
Sources and evidence
Sources are shown with the role they play in this guide. Historical or style-sensitive claims are kept within the evidence boundary described above.
- disburse — Cambridge Dictionary (opens in a new tab)Cambridge Dictionary · Meaning of disburse as paying out money or funds
- disperse — Cambridge Dictionary (opens in a new tab)Cambridge Dictionary · Meaning of disperse as spreading, scattering, or separating