trial balance

American  

noun

Bookkeeping.

trial balances plural

1. a statement of all the open debit and credit items, made preliminary to balancing a double-entry ledger.

---

trial balance British  

noun

1. accounting a statement of all the debit and credit balances in the ledger of a double-entry system, drawn up to test their equality

---

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• trial balances
  plural

Etymology

Origin of trial balance

First recorded in 1830–40

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

trial balance

The quarterly review will then be indeed his trial balance.

From Sunday-School Success A Book of Practical Methods for Sunday-School Teachers and Officers by Wells, Amos R.

The trial balance to-night developed a shortage of $1.22.

From V. V.'s Eyes by Harrison, Henry Sydnor

These influences cannot yet be weighed and known—not until account has been taken of all the factors in the world's life problem, the grand totals cast up and the trial balance made.

From Studies in the Poetry of Italy, I. Roman by Miller, Frank Justus

I hung my head with shame while he glanced over the trial balance, which, according to my father's system, included the balance sheet.

From Desk and Debit or, The Catastrophes of a Clerk by Optic, Oliver

Taking the trial balance shown above, the following represent the trading account, profit and loss account, Balance sheet. and balance sheet compiled therefrom.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 4, Slice 2 "Bohemia" to "Borgia, Francis" by Various