spreadsheet

American  

[spred-sheet] / ˈsprɛdˌʃit /

Or spread sheet

noun

• spreadsheets
  plural

1. Accounting. a worksheet that is arranged in the manner of a mathematical matrix and contains a multicolumn analysis of related entries for easy reference on a single sheet.

2. Digital Technology.

   1. a type of software that offers the user a visual display of a simulated multicolumn worksheet and the means of using it especially for financial plans and budgets.

   2. a single document created with this software.

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spreadsheet British  

/ ˈsprɛdˌʃiːt /

noun

1. a computer program that allows easy entry and manipulation of figures, equations, and text, used esp for financial planning and budgeting

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spreadsheet Cultural  

1. Table of data arranged in columns and rows often used in business and financial applications. Spreadsheet software programs are widely used computer applications that allow the user to organize large amounts of data.

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• spreadsheets
  plural

Etymology

Origin of spreadsheet

First recorded in 1905–10; spread + sheet ¹

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

spreadsheet spreadsheets

But you can’t really get anywhere without looking at real numbers, and that means sitting down with a budgeting system, whether it’s your own spreadsheet or some software.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 11, 2026

This means that if Northampton already have a player nominated for the excluded player spot they would probably have to unpick a huge amount of spreadsheet calculations to move it over to Pollock.

From BBC ● Aug. 4, 2026

Brett Doyle maintains a meticulous spreadsheet of the latest automotive tech—electronic door handles, massive touch screens, cruise control that automatically goes with the flow of traffic.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 30, 2026

The longest list — nearly 370 spreadsheet pages — was filed by the NIH, a unit of the Department of Health and Human Services.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 28, 2026

Dimple clicked to open a spreadsheet and turned her laptop around.

From "When Dimple Met Rishi" by Sandhya Menon

But what looks good on spreadsheets ignores daunting constraints.

From Barron's ● Aug. 22, 2026

I run a company that tracks layoffs caused by artificial intelligence, and every month I look at spreadsheets that show my generation losing entry-level jobs faster than anyone anticipated.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 18, 2026

There are ways he could use AI at work, such as generating charts, spreadsheets and data reports.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 10, 2026

He famously explained how streaming media left massive holes in studio spreadsheets on an episode of “Hot Ones.”

From Salon ● Jul. 12, 2026

"The mission team's ready," Venkat said, looking at spreadsheets on his laptop.

From "The Martian" by Andy Weir

Related Words

• application
• application software
• program