trial balance

American  

noun

Bookkeeping.

1. a statement of all the open debit and credit items, made preliminary to balancing a double-entry ledger.

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trial balance British  

noun

1. accounting a statement of all the debit and credit balances in the ledger of a double-entry system, drawn up to test their equality

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Etymology

Origin of trial balance

First recorded in 1830–40

Example Sentences

The Batavian Republic now could make up a little trial balance.

From Project Gutenberg

This is as if a merchant should never balance his books, or, taking a trial balance, should be heedless of the result.

From Project Gutenberg

These influences cannot yet be weighed and known—not until account has been taken of all the factors in the world's life problem, the grand totals cast up and the trial balance made.

From Project Gutenberg

Such a list is called a trial balance, an example of which is given below.

From Project Gutenberg

An ordinary merchant's accountant will, if need be, work a week to correct in his trial balance the variation of a cent.

From Project Gutenberg