Showing results for "accounting"

• present participle of account.

accounting

American  

[uh-kaun-ting] / əˈkaʊn tɪŋ /

noun

1. the theory and system of setting up, maintaining, and auditing the books of a firm; art of analyzing the financial position and operating results of a business house from a study of its sales, purchases, overhead, etc. (distinguished from bookkeeping).

2. a detailed report of the financial state or transactions of a person or entity.

   an accounting of the estate.

3. the rendering or submission of such a report.

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accounting British  

/ əˈkaʊntɪŋ /

noun

1. 1. the skill or practice of maintaining and auditing accounts and preparing reports on the assets, liabilities, etc, of a business

   2. ( as modifier )

      an accounting period

      accounting entity

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accounting Cultural  

1. The system of recording and auditing business transactions. (See audit.)

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Etymology

Origin of accounting

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English; account + -ing ¹

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Explanation

Accounting is the act of computing something, usually by dealing with numbers. If you were very good at math in high school, you might think about going into accounting. You can see the word count within accounting, which is one way to remember that the word has to do with keeping track of numbers — usually in relation to financial transactions. Balancing your checkbook is a form of accounting. Large firms often hire accountants to keep track of their earnings and spending. Accounting can also more generally mean explaining. Someone who decides to wear shorts to the prom is likely going to have some serious accounting to do!

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

accounting

The loss stemmed mostly from non-cash accounting charges linked to the company's rising valuation, the filing showed.

From Barron's ● Nov. 2, 2026

The Wall Street Journal identified 274 damaged structures at 24 installations with a U.S. military presence across the Middle East during the war’s first six months—the most comprehensive public accounting of that damage to date.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 31, 2026

After accounting for these effects, the researchers found that the adjusted temperatures for 2023 and 2024 were somewhat lower than the original observations.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 30, 2026

According to Visible Alpha, the expectation for 2032 is $1.78 trillion in revenue, with retail accounting for $1.05 trillion of that.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 30, 2026

"By what? He's handsome, good education, lovely parents. He works in his father's accounting firm."

From "You Bring the Distant Near" by Mitali Perkins

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Related Words

• bookkeeping
• computing

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