accounting

noun

ac·​count·​ing ə-ˈkau̇n-tiŋ 

1

: the system of recording and summarizing business and financial transactions and analyzing, verifying, and reporting the results

also : the principles and procedures of this system

studied accounting as a freshman

2

a

: work done in accounting or by accountants

b

: an instance of applied accounting or of the settling or presenting of accounts

3

: account sense 2

They were required to provide a detailed accounting of their actions.

Synonyms of accounting

• explanation
• reason

Examples of accounting in a Sentence

what accounting can you give for your bizarre actions on the night in question?

Recent Examples on the Web

The order comes after the White House released a 162-page report on July 4 that disputed the Smithsonian’s accounting of American history. — Eduardo Cuevas, USA Today, 25 July 2026

Player updates as a service Behind the scenes, Underdog staffers manage Google spreadsheets that resemble the work of accounting departments. — Dan Bernstein, Sportico.com, 24 July 2026

Conflicting accounts Beyond criticizing the emergency response, the report challenges the government’s accounting of the disaster. — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 23 July 2026

Year-over-year, however, the category fell 28%, with Reality TV accounting for much of the drop. — Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 23 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English acountynge "reckoning, calculation," from gerund of accounten "to account entry 2"

First Known Use

1703, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing accounting

• cost accounting
• there's no accounting for taste

Rhymes for accounting

• amounting
• discounting
• dismounting
• recounting
• surmounting
• counting
• mounting

Kids Definition

accounting

noun

ac·​count·​ing ə-ˈkau̇nt-iŋ 

1

: the system or practice of recording the amounts of money made and spent by a person or business

2

: a statement explaining one's conduct : account sense 5a

Legal Definition

accounting

noun

ac·​count·​ing

1

: an often court-ordered presentment or examination of accounts

a complete accounting would be necessary to determine the nature of the expenditures

—Case & Comment

2

: the settlement by judicial action of the assets of a partnership (as upon dissolution)