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

Today, it is regarded as an investment vehicle offering exposure to Bitcoin as the crypto continues to dominate its balance sheet.

From Barron's • Jun. 1, 2026

Following the sale of Topgolf, Callaway has a net cash balance sheet and higher operating margins.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 31, 2026

However long this cycle lasts for Micron, management is being opportunistic and using the cash flow to clean up the company’s balance sheet.

From Barron's • May 29, 2026

“Capital spending filters through the balance sheet instead — and will show up on the P&L only slowly over time in the form of higher depreciation charges,” they noted.

From MarketWatch • May 29, 2026

The act of bringing together after a difference, as in to reconcile numbers on a balance sheet; resolution.

From "The Lemonade War" by Jacqueline Davies