cost-share: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, Professional, Technical
Quick answer
What does “cost-share” mean?
An arrangement where the cost of something is divided between two or more parties.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An arrangement where the cost of something is divided between two or more parties.
1. (Verb) To divide the cost of something among participants. 2. (Noun) The portion of a cost that a particular party is responsible for. Commonly used in contexts like healthcare, government grants, business projects, and research funding.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage and meaning are identical. The hyphenated form is standard in both varieties, though 'cost sharing' (as a noun phrase) is also common. More prevalent in American administrative and healthcare discourse.
Connotations
Neutral, administrative, financial.
Frequency
Higher frequency in American English due to its common use in describing health insurance plans (e.g., copays, deductibles) and federal grant requirements.
Grammar
How to Use “cost-share” in a Sentence
to cost-share [something] (with somebody)to agree to a cost-sharea 50/50 cost-sharea cost-share of X%under a cost-share agreementVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “cost-share” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The council will cost-share the infrastructure project with the private developer.
- We are looking for a partner to cost-share the clinical trial.
American English
- The university will cost-share the laboratory renovations as part of the grant.
- The policy requires patients to cost-share 20% of prescription drug costs.
adverb
British English
- []
American English
- []
adjective
British English
- They entered into a cost-share agreement for the new community centre.
- The cost-share model made the venture feasible for both parties.
American English
- A cost-share provision is built into the healthcare plan.
- We are exploring cost-share options for the equipment purchase.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
"The two companies agreed to cost-share the development of the new software platform."
Academic
"The research proposal must include a detailed plan for the institutional cost-share."
Everyday
"Our health insurance has a high cost-share for specialist appointments." (US context)
Technical
"The federal grant requires a 1:1 non-federal cost-share match."
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “cost-share”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “cost-share”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “cost-share”
- Using it as a casual term for splitting a restaurant bill (too informal).
- Incorrect part of speech: 'We made a cost-share' (better: 'We agreed to a cost-share' or 'We cost-shared').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
The standard form is hyphenated: 'cost-share'. The related noun is often 'cost-sharing' (also hyphenated).
It's not typical. For informal situations like splitting a meal, phrases like 'split the bill', 'go Dutch', or 'chip in' are more natural. 'Cost-share' implies a more formal arrangement.
In US healthcare, 'co-pay' (copayment) is a specific type of cost-share—a fixed amount you pay for a service. 'Cost-share' is the broader term covering co-pays, deductibles, and coinsurance.
Yes. It follows regular verb conjugation: cost-share, cost-shared, cost-sharing.
An arrangement where the cost of something is divided between two or more parties.
Cost-share: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkɒst ˌʃeə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkɔːst ˌʃɛr/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a SHARED cake where everyone pays for their own slice. COST-SHARE = sharing the financial 'cake'.
Conceptual Metaphor
FINANCIAL BURDEN IS A PHYSICAL WEIGHT TO BE DISTRIBUTED.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'cost-share' LEAST likely to be used?