cash flow

American  

noun

1. the sum of the after-tax profit of a business plus depreciation and other noncash charges: used as an indication of internal funds available for stock dividends, purchase of buildings and equipment, etc.

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cash flow British  

noun

1. the movement of money into and out of a business

2. a prediction of such movement over a given period

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Etymology

Origin of cash flow

First recorded in 1950–55

Example Sentences

Microsoft shares have fallen 23% this year, but analysts project over 10% annual revenue growth and a 30% free cash flow margin.

From Barron's • Apr. 3, 2026

Inventory management, cash flow and marketing are essential subjects in any business narrative, but readers looking for that story will be disappointed with observations bordering on the remedial.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026

What’s Next: Wells Fargo analyst Timna Tanners wrote earlier this month that she prefers Century to Alcoa because it can increase its cash flow during the war-related disruptions.

From Barron's • Mar. 31, 2026

“We’ve taken steps to improve performance, strengthen free cash flow, and offset dilution, and will continue to evaluate actions that drive long-term value for all stockholders.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 31, 2026

Countless similar oddities result from our conventional ways of measuring, reporting, and com paring periodic quantities, whether they be the monthly cash flow of a government or the regular daily fluctuations in body temperature.

From "Innumeracy: Mathematical Illiteracy and Its Consequences" by John Allen Paulos