Audit Definition & Meaning | Britannica Dictionary (original) (raw)

Britannica Dictionary definition of AUDIT

1

:

a complete and careful examination of the financial records of a business or person

[count]

• The audit showed that the company had misled investors.
• The Internal Revenue Service selected us for an audit.

[noncount]

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

2

[count]

:

a careful check or review of something

• Our local power company will perform an energy audit [=_survey, inspection_] of our house.
• Investigators called for an audit [=_review, analysis_] of flight safety standards.

Britannica Dictionary definition of AUDIT

[+ object]

1

:

to check the financial records of (a business or person)

:

to perform an audit on (a business or person)

• They audit the company books every year.
• The Internal Revenue Service audited him twice in 10 years.

2

US

:

to attend a course at a college or university without having to do any of the course work and without receiving credit

• I audited an English literature class last semester.