cash flow

American  

noun

1. the sum of the after-tax profit of a business plus depreciation and other noncash charges: used as an indication of internal funds available for stock dividends, purchase of buildings and equipment, etc.

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cash flow British  

noun

1. the movement of money into and out of a business

2. a prediction of such movement over a given period

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Etymology

Origin of cash flow

First recorded in 1950–55

Example Sentences

Inventory management, cash flow and marketing are essential subjects in any business narrative, but readers looking for that story will be disappointed with observations bordering on the remedial.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026

Fiscal 2026 marked the company’s first year with a positive net income as a public company, generating $54.4 million in free cash flow, a sizable figure compared with its current $480 million market capitalization.

From Barron's • Mar. 31, 2026

Fiscal 2026 marked the company’s first year with a positive net income as a public company, generating $54.4 million in free cash flow, a sizable figure compared with its current $480 million market capitalization.

From Barron's • Mar. 31, 2026

RH is projecting full-year revenue growth of between 4% and 8% in fiscal 2026, with adjusted free cash flow between $300 million and $400 million.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 31, 2026

He gobbled up the squash I bought him earlier, but my new cash flow didn’t convince him to stay.

From "Invisible Inkling" by Emily Jenkins