Synonyms of accounting
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
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The authors stress the figure should be viewed as an initial technical assessment rather than a final accounting. Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 3 July 2026 Providing meals, groceries or some accounting assistance might be more useful to her than the $50. Judith Martin, Mercury News, 4 July 2026 The House of the Dragon Scorecard is an accounting of the events of this week’s episode, in which points are awarded to characters on a scale of 0 to 10. Brian Grubb, Vulture, 6 July 2026 Brands relying on these factors for product footprints and carbon accounting have had to take that number on faith, with no way to verify it, adapt it to their supply chain, or defend it in an audit, Carbonfact said. Roy Stephen Canivel, Footwear News, 2 July 2026 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 7 Jul. 2026.

Kids Definition

accounting

noun
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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