A line item is a specific budgeted expense or revenue category within a larger document, such as a budget proposal. It refers to an individual entry in a list or accounting ledger that represents a separate and distinct cost or income component. In other words, it's a single, identifiable element of a budget, often representing a specific project, program, or expense category. Line items are typically listed as separate entries within the larger document to provide transparency and clarity about where funds are being allocated or generated from.