audit

1 of 2

noun

au·​dit ˈȯ-dət 

1

a

: a formal examination of an organization's or individual's accounts or financial situation

The audit showed that the company had misled investors.

b

: the final report of an audit

2

: a methodical examination and review

an energy audit of the house

audit

2 of 2

verb

audited; auditing; audits

transitive verb

1

: to perform an audit of or for

audit the books

audit the company

2

: to attend (a course) without working for or expecting to receive formal credit

audited a foreign language course

auditability

ˌȯ-də-tə-ˈbi-lə-tē 

noun

auditable

ˌȯ-di-tə-bəl 

adjective

auditee

ˌȯ-də-ˈtē 

noun

Synonyms

Noun

• check
• checkup
• examination
• going-over
• inspection
• look-see
• review
• scan
• scrutiny
• survey
• view

Verb

• check (out)
• con
• examine
• inspect
• overlook
• oversee
• review
• scan
• scrutinize
• survey
• view

Examples of audit in a Sentence

Noun

The Internal Revenue Service selected us for an audit.

You will need all your records if you are selected for audit by the IRS.

Verb

They audit the company books every year.

The Internal Revenue Service audited him twice in 10 years.

I audited an English literature class last semester.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Counting provides the audit before an intervention. —Kendra Thomas, TIME, 5 June 2024

The federal audit found that out of nearly $373 million in Medicaid reimbursement for immigrants who did not meet the federal requirements, California improperly claimed $52.7 million from October 2018 through June 2019. —Emily Alpert Reyes, Los Angeles Times, 5 June 2024

Verb

The United States Postal Service is auditing four postal facilities in Kansas and Missouri this summer after reports of mail delays from residents and U.S. representatives. —Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 5 June 2024

Located in eastern part of the state, near the Gulf of Mexico, Houston is home to a Museum District, excellent health facilities, and several colleges, including the University of Houston, where seniors ages 65 and older are able to audit courses for free. —Patricia Doherty, Travel + Leisure, 4 June 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English audyte "examination of accounts, judicial hearing," borrowed from Medieval Latin audītus "sense of hearing, act of listening, right to judicial hearing, examination of accounts," going back to Latin, "sense or act of hearing," from audīre "to hear" + -tus, suffix of action nouns — more at audible entry 1

Note: The sense "examination of accounts," attested relatively late in Medieval Latin, is based on the word audītor, which in the meaning "one who examines accounts" is recorded much earlier—see auditor.

Verb

Middle English audyten, derivative of audyte audit entry 1; in sense 2 back-formation from auditor

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing audit

• audit trail

Kids Definition

audit

1 of 2 noun

au·​dit ˈȯd-ət 

1

: a thorough check of accounts especially of a business

2

: a careful check or review

an energy audit of our house

audit

2 of 2 verb

: to make an audit of

Legal Definition

audit

noun

au·​dit ˈȯ-dət 

: a formal examination of financial records often to uncover fraud or inaccurate tax returns

also : the final report of such an examination

audit verb