balance sheet

American  

noun

Accounting.

1. a tabular statement of both sides of a set of accounts in which the debit and credit balances add up as equal.

2. a statement of the financial position of a business on a specified date.

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balance sheet British  

noun

1. a statement that shows the financial position of a business enterprise at a specified date by listing the asset balances and the claims on such assets

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balance sheet Cultural  

1. An orderly account of the assets of a company or individual and of the financial claims on those assets by others.

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Etymology

Origin of balance sheet

First recorded in 1830–40

Example Sentences

Ternus is being handed a pristine balance sheet, a legendary brand and the most valuable installed base on earth.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 21, 2026

During the Covid pandemic, the Fed prescribed more of the same, doubling the size of its balance sheet and sending the 10-year rate, mortgage rates and the equity risk premium to historic lows.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 21, 2026

One of his stated goals before his nomination was reducing the Fed’s balance sheet that is now $6.7 trillion and growing again.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 20, 2026

Investors and Fed watchers will be carefully monitoring how Warsh responds to questions on Fed independence and the central bank’s balance sheet, but few expect his comments to move markets tomorrow.

From Barron's • Apr. 20, 2026

“We need to think about what our marriage is really based on . . . not this balance sheet, who owes who what.”

From "The Joy Luck Club" by Amy Tan