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.
Examples of accounting in a Sentence
what accounting can you give for your bizarre actions on the night in question?
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The world’s largest accounting body will scrap remote exams to combat a rise in AI-powered cheating.
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Tom Chivers, semafor.com, 29 Dec. 2025
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More than half of the funding is for an attorney, two intelligence analysts and an accounting technician.
—Center Square, The Washington Examiner, 29 Dec. 2025
That year of reporting produced the first comprehensive accounting of Brightline deaths — and the names of those who died.
—Brittany Wallman, Miami Herald, 26 Dec. 2025
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Tom Chivers, semafor.com, 29 Dec. 2025
However, StyleCaster may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.
—Francesca Krempa, StyleCaster, 29 Dec. 2025
More than half of the funding is for an attorney, two intelligence analysts and an accounting technician.
—Center Square, The Washington Examiner, 29 Dec. 2025
That year of reporting produced the first comprehensive accounting of Brightline deaths — and the names of those who died.
—Brittany Wallman, Miami Herald, 26 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for accounting
Cite this Entry
“Accounting.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/accounting. Accessed 31 Dec. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
Case & Comment2
: the settlement by judicial action of the assets of a partnership (as upon dissolution)
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