Showing results for "accounting"

• present participle of account.

accounting

American  

[uh-kaun-ting] / əˈkaʊn tɪŋ /

noun

1. the theory and system of setting up, maintaining, and auditing the books of a firm; art of analyzing the financial position and operating results of a business house from a study of its sales, purchases, overhead, etc. (distinguished from bookkeeping).

2. a detailed report of the financial state or transactions of a person or entity.

   an accounting of the estate.

3. the rendering or submission of such a report.

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accounting British  

/ əˈkaʊntɪŋ /

noun

1. 1. the skill or practice of maintaining and auditing accounts and preparing reports on the assets, liabilities, etc, of a business

   2. ( as modifier )

      an accounting period

      accounting entity

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accounting Cultural  

1. The system of recording and auditing business transactions. (See audit.)

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Etymology

Origin of accounting

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English; account + -ing ¹

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Explanation

Accounting is the act of computing something, usually by dealing with numbers. If you were very good at math in high school, you might think about going into accounting. You can see the word count within accounting, which is one way to remember that the word has to do with keeping track of numbers — usually in relation to financial transactions. Balancing your checkbook is a form of accounting. Large firms often hire accountants to keep track of their earnings and spending. Accounting can also more generally mean explaining. Someone who decides to wear shorts to the prom is likely going to have some serious accounting to do!

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

accounting

“In private credit, valuation discretion is not merely an accounting issue—it directly affects adviser compensation,” said the Employees Retirement System of the City of St. Louis in a case against FS KKR.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 19, 2026

"I've seen the documents that Abu Dhabi presented to the New York case. I'm not a lawyer, but from an accounting point of view, they can be seen in more than one way."

From BBC ● Oct. 16, 2026

After all, money management can benefit from economies of scale: Research, software, regulatory, legal, accounting and other costs tend to be fixed and can be spread across a larger base as assets grow.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 16, 2026

Notably, the relationship between earlier fitness and later artery health remained significant even after accounting for several established cardiovascular risk factors, including obesity, smoking, and blood pressure.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 15, 2026

My progressions are insane, certainly not an advertisement of ability—more like an accounting of a ceramic shop after an earthquake.

From "I'll Give You the Sun" by Jandy Nelson

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Related Words

• bookkeeping
• computing

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