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

• account
• argument
• case
• explanation
• rationale
• 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

However, TVLine may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes. —Ryan Schwartz, TVLine, 15 Feb. 2025

Big universities were never going to choose athletic conferences based on carbon accounting. —Sammy Roth, Los Angeles Times, 13 Feb. 2025

The company plans to address these issues by seeking qualified accounting staff and establishing an audit committee. —Quartz Intelligence Newsroom, Quartz, 12 Feb. 2025

In 2018, Panasonic Avionics Corp., a U.S.-based division of Panasonic Corp., agreed to pay a more than $137 million criminal penalty to resolve charges of violating accounting provisions of FCPA. —Dan Mangan,lora Kolodny, CNBC, 12 Feb. 2025

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

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)