accounting

noun

ac·​count·​ing ə-ˈkau̇n-tiŋ How to pronounce accounting (audio)
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.

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
However, StyleCaster may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes. Elizabeth Denton, StyleCaster, 20 Oct. 2025 And even when its investigations didn’t fix problems, CRCL provided an accounting of allegations and a measure of transparency for Congress and the public. J. David McSwane, ProPublica, 18 Oct. 2025 To cover it this year, Newsom and legislators tapped emergency reserves, borrowed money from the state treasury’s special funds, postponed some spending and engaged in some accounting gimmickry. Dan Walters, Mercury News, 18 Oct. 2025 However, the department said SDC gave it access to one accounting system that did not contain all the financial information needed for the audit. Gina Lee Castro, jsonline.com, 17 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for accounting

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of accounting was in 1703

Cite this Entry

“Accounting.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/accounting. Accessed 25 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

accounting

noun
ac·​count·​ing ə-ˈkau̇nt-iŋ How to pronounce accounting (audio)
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 expendituresCase & Comment
2
: the settlement by judicial action of the assets of a partnership (as upon dissolution)

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