audit

[aw-dit]

noun

1. an official examination and verification of accounts and records, especially of financial accounts.

2. a report or statement reflecting an audit; a final statement of account.

3. the inspection or examination of a building or other facility to evaluate or improve its appropriateness, safety, efficiency, or the like.

   An energy audit can suggest ways to reduce home fuel bills.

4. Archaic.,  a judicial hearing.

5. Obsolete.,  an audience.

verb (used with object)

1. to make an audit of; examine (accounts, records, etc.) for purposes of verification.

   The accountants audited the company's books at the end of the fiscal year.

2. to attend (classes, lectures, etc.) as an auditor.

3. to make an audit of (a building or other facility) to evaluate or improve its safety, efficiency, or the like.

verb (used without object)

1. to examine and verify an account or accounts by reference to vouchers.

audit

/ ˈɔːdɪt /

noun

1. 1. an inspection, correction, and verification of business accounts, conducted by an independent qualified accountant

   2. ( as modifier )

      audit report

2. an audited account

3. any thoroughgoing check or examination

4. archaic,  a hearing

verb

1. to inspect, correct, and certify (accounts, etc)

2. to attend (classes, etc) as an auditor

audit

1. The examination by an outside party of the accounts of an individual or corporation.

Other Word Forms

• auditable adjective
• reaudit noun
• unaudited adjective
• well-audited adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of audit¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English audite, from Latin audītus “the sense or act of hearing,” noun derivative of audīre “to hear”

Word History and Origins

Origin of audit¹

C15: from Latin audītus a hearing, from audīre to hear

Example Sentences

One of the emails shared with Ms Cockburn included figures from a departmental mortality audit.

From BBC

Frontier Climate, along with the company Isometric, audits Arbor’s technology and operations.

From Los Angeles Times

Lastly, there’s Capt. Mike Bornman, who has decades of experience in the department and lists a “comprehensive forensic audit” of its books as the top priority on his campaign website.

From Los Angeles Times

On Friday, Chakwera's party said it had discovered "irregularities" and "serious anomalies", and had asked the electoral commission to conduct a "physical audit" of results.

From BBC

They said this would include auditing and inspecting the source code and recommendation system underpinning the app, and rebuilding it for US users using only US user data.

From BBC

Related Words

• analysis 
• check 
• examination 
• investigation 
• review 
• scrutiny 
• survey 
• verification