What is the term used for an expense that is recognized but not yet paid in cash?

The term for an expense that is recognized but not yet paid in cash is accrued expense. This accounting principle captures the idea that expenses should be recorded in the period they are incurred, regardless of when the cash payment is made. In other words, an accrued expense represents an obligation that a company has incurred for goods or services received but has not yet settled with a cash payment.

For example, if a company receives a utility bill for services provided during the month, it recognizes that expense in the same month, even if it doesn't pay the bill until the following month. This aligns with the accrual basis of accounting, which emphasizes matching revenues with the expenses incurred to generate those revenues in the correct accounting period.

The other terms listed, such as deferred revenue, amortized cost, and prepaid expense, refer to different concepts in accounting related to timing and recognition of revenue and expenses.