balance sheet

American  

noun

Accounting.

balance sheets plural

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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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• balance sheets
  plural

Etymology

Origin of balance sheet

First recorded in 1830–40

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

balance sheet

Its half-year results are set to be published on 29 July, but on Wednesday the firm announced loans that it said would bolster its balance sheet and fund future product plans.

From BBC ● Jul. 22, 2026

In terms of longer-term trends Abouhossein argues that investment banking generally is transforming as a business model from a heavy emphasis on balance sheet and inventory, to something lighter and more geared to best-execution practices.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 22, 2026

“This transaction is the natural next phase: it gives our shareholders ownership in an investment-grade company with greater scale and diversification, and the balance sheet to sustain long-term returns,” BlueNord Chief Executive Euan Shirlaw said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 21, 2026

The division was also under pressure to improve its financial performance as Shari Redstone, then-chair of parent Paramount, was intent on improving the company’s balance sheet ahead of a sale.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 19, 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