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 House of the Dragon Scorecard is an accounting of the events of this week’s season-three finale, in which points are awarded to characters on a scale of 0 to 10. — Brian Grubb, Vulture, 10 Aug. 2026

Temporary federal aid, strong capital-gains years or accounting maneuvers can swell the cash balance. — Sheila Weinberg, Baltimore Sun, 9 Aug. 2026

The letter also requested additional financial records and accounting information. — Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 7 Aug. 2026

The bank now spends more than $2 billion annually on health care for its roughly 211,000 employees, with GLP-1 medications such as Ozempic, Wegovy and Zepbound accounting for about 13% of that total, CNBC and The Independent reported. — Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 7 Aug. 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)