“Disburse” vs. “Disperse”: What’s the Difference?

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The difference between “disburse” and “disperse”

  • Disburse is focused on dividing resources among recipients, while disperse is about spreading out or moving apart.
  • Disburse is usually used in financial or business contexts, while disperse is more general and can apply to many different situations.
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What is the definition of “disburse” and “disperse”?

Disburse
  • To distribute or pay out money or resources.
  • Usually used in business or financial contexts.
  • Often involves dividing a sum of money among multiple recipients or expenses.
Disperse
  • To scatter or spread out over a wide area.
  • Often used in relation to people or objects moving in different directions.
  • Can also refer to the dissipation or breakup of a group or substance.

Which is the more popular variant on the Internet?

“Disperse” is the more popular variant on the web.
Disburse
5,380,000 results on the web
Examples
  1. The company will disburse the salaries of its employees on the 30th of every month.
  2. The court order requires the executor to disburse the estate to the rightful heirs.
  3. The charity organization decided to disburse the funds to various communities affected by the disaster.
More popular
Disperse
50,500,000 results on the web
Examples
  1. The crowd began to disperse after the police arrived.
  2. The wind will help disperse the smoke from the burning building.
  3. The seeds of the plant disperse easily in the wind, making it easy for the species to spread.
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