accounting

American  

[uh-koun-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. (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

Example Sentences

Earnings accounting doesn’t subtract capex when the money is actually spent.

From Barron's • Apr. 3, 2026

Over that period, spending has become increasingly concentrated at the top, with the bottom 60% of U.S. households accounting for just 23% of total spending.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 3, 2026

In those scenarios, the accounting rules say they “shall consider whether an adjustment” is necessary.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026

SoFi stock has fallen 40% this year as of Wednesday’s close of trading, weighed down by a brutal market for fintech and allegations of accounting mishandling by the short seller Muddy Waters Research.

From Barron's • Apr. 2, 2026

All luck, no accounting for it, except for the fact that I always sell my stock fast.

From "X: A Novel" by Ilyasah Shabazz

Related Words

• bookkeeping
• computing