accrual

[uh-kroo-uhl]

noun

1. the act or process of accruing.

2. something accrued; accretion.

accrual

/ əˈkruːəl /

noun

1. the act of accruing

2. something that has accrued

3. accounting a charge incurred in one accounting period that has not been paid by the end of it

Other Word Forms

• nonaccrual adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of accrual¹

First recorded in 1875–80; accrue + -al ²

Example Sentences

An investigation and forensic analysis subsequently identified that a "single employee with responsibility for small package delivery expense accounting intentionally made erroneous accounting accrual entries" starting around the end of 2021, Macy's said.

From BBC

"They refused to propose any wage increases, vacation/sick leave accrual, progression, ratification bonus, or the 401k Match/SCRC Contribution. They also would not reinstate the defined benefit pension," the IAM said in a statement.

From BBC

But years later, he reread “Robot Dreams” to pass the time and something new had happened: an accrual of personal experience that deepened the story.

From Los Angeles Times

Aftershock sequences weaken over time, but strain accrual can lead to larger earthquakes in the future.

From Science Daily

Even so, some advocates encourage borrowers to wait for now, since there’s no financial penalty for nonpayment during the pause on payments and interest accrual.

From Seattle Times

When To Use

What does accrual mean?

Accrual is the process or result of gaining more of a particular thing.Accrual is the noun form of the verb accrue, which means to grow and accumulate naturally or to be added periodically. Accrual is especially used in the context of finance to refer to the growth of interest in an account.Example: A retirement fund allows for the accrual of money over the course of your career so that you can support yourself once you stop working.