accounting

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noun ac·count·ing \ə-ˈkau̇n-tiŋ\

Definition of accounting

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
2a : work done in accounting or by accountantsb : an instance of applied accounting or of the settling or presenting of accounts
3 : account 2 They were required to provide a detailed accounting of their actions.

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See accounting defined for kids

Examples of accounting in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples of accounting from the Web

The Motion Picture Association of America has hired an accounting firm to audit China’s box office amid concerns about phony ticket sales, according to Bloomberg.

— vanityfair.com, "A Hitch in Netflix’s Plan for Global Domination", 27 June 2017
The Motion Picture Association of America has hired an accounting firm to audit China’s box office amid concerns about phony ticket sales, according to Bloomberg.

— rebecca keegan, HWD, "A Hitch in Netflix’s Plan for Global Domination", 27 June 2017
One of the university's main donors, the Nordic Council, requested an audit by the international accounting firm of Deloitte.

— greg garrison, AL.com, "Ex-BSC President David Pollick sells Colorado home for $1.87 million", 20 June 2017
Dread of being trapped like that haunts accounting manager Matt Hopkins.

— sue shellenbarger, WSJ, "Rise Above Your Awful Commute", 20 June 2017
Pollick left Birmingham-Southern College after a series of accounting errors and overspending left the liberal arts school in deep financial trouble.

— greg garrison, AL.com, "Ex-BSC President David Pollick sells Colorado home for $1.87 million", 20 June 2017
Using a few accounting tricks, CEOs can make EPS do their bidding.

— steven clifford, The Atlantic, "How Companies Actually Decide What to Pay CEOs", 14 June 2017
Wages for positions available start at $11 an hour and top out around $40 per hour for some of the highest-paying positions in fields such as accounting, management, nursing and engineering, Anzaldua said.

— zach kyle, idahostatesman, "Looking for a job? Opportunities abound at four-day job fair in Caldwell", 14 June 2017
The group is operating as a fund of the Crown Point Community Foundation in order to maintain its charitable standing while the accounting issues are addressed with the IRS and the theater winds down operations.

— carrie napoleon, Post-Tribune, "Bankruptcy forces curtain to fall on community theater", 9 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'accounting'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of accounting

Middle English acountynge “reckoning, calculation,” from gerund of accounten “to ²account”

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First Known Use: circa 1676

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Other Business Terms

amortize, caveat emptor, clearinghouse, divest, due diligence, emolument, green-collar, marque, overhead, perquisite

ACCOUNTING Defined for English Language Learners

accounting

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noun

Definition of accounting for English Language Learners

: the skill, system, or job of keeping the financial records of a business or person

ACCOUNTING Defined for Kids

accounting

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noun ac·count·ing \ə-ˈkau̇n-tiŋ\

Definition of accounting for Students

: the work of keeping a person's or a business's financial records

Law Dictionary

accounting

noun ac·count·ing

Legal Definition of accounting

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)