audit

1 of 2

noun

au·​dit ˈȯ-dət 

1

a

: a formal examination of an organization's or individual's accounts or financial situation

The audit showed that the company had misled investors.

b

: the final report of an audit

2

: a methodical examination and review

an energy audit of the house

audit

2 of 2

verb

audited; auditing; audits

transitive verb

1

: to perform an audit of or for

audit the books

audit the company

2

: to attend (a course) without working for or expecting to receive formal credit

audited a foreign language course

auditability

ˌȯ-də-tə-ˈbi-lə-tē 

noun

auditable

ˌȯ-di-tə-bəl 

adjective

auditee

ˌȯ-də-ˈtē 

noun

Synonyms

Noun

• check
• checkup
• examination
• going-over
• inspection
• look-see
• review
• scan
• scrutiny
• survey
• view

Verb

• check (out)
• con
• examine
• inspect
• overlook
• oversee
• review
• scan
• scrutinize
• survey
• view

Examples of audit in a Sentence

Noun

The Internal Revenue Service selected us for an audit.

You will need all your records if you are selected for audit by the IRS.

Verb

They audit the company books every year.

The Internal Revenue Service audited him twice in 10 years.

I audited an English literature class last semester.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The House also saw a set of bills intended to support first time home buying and property tax relief, and lawmakers raised concerns about the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency, which hasn’t seen an audit since the 1980s. —Christina Lengyel | The Center Square Contributor, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 23 Dec. 2024

Identifies Areas For Improvement An audit also shines a light on areas of financial inefficiency. —Sean Manning, Forbes, 23 Dec. 2024

Verb

Just as companies regularly audit their finances, conducting periodic reputation audits helps identify strengths and weaknesses in brand perception. —Adam Petrilli, Forbes, 26 Dec. 2024

Extra funding to audit large companies means nothing when those large companies can then hire lobbyists to use their inside access at the IRS. —William Henck, Orlando Sentinel, 20 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English audyte "examination of accounts, judicial hearing," borrowed from Medieval Latin audītus "sense of hearing, act of listening, right to judicial hearing, examination of accounts," going back to Latin, "sense or act of hearing," from audīre "to hear" + -tus, suffix of action nouns — more at audible entry 1

Note: The sense "examination of accounts," attested relatively late in Medieval Latin, is based on the word audītor, which in the meaning "one who examines accounts" is recorded much earlier—see auditor.

Verb

Middle English audyten, derivative of audyte audit entry 1; in sense 2 back-formation from auditor

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing audit

• audit trail

Kids Definition

audit

1 of 2 noun

au·​dit ˈȯd-ət 

1

: a thorough check of accounts especially of a business

2

: a careful check or review

an energy audit of our house

audit

2 of 2 verb

: to make an audit of

Legal Definition

audit

noun

au·​dit ˈȯ-dət 

: a formal examination of financial records often to uncover fraud or inaccurate tax returns

also : the final report of such an examination

audit verb