audit

SayAW-dit/ˈɔ.dɪt/UK/ˈɔː.dɪt/

Pluralaudits

Verbaudits, auditing, audited

11 meanings of audit

Practice

1
nouncountable
A careful, independent check of a company's records to make sure rules are followed and to suggest fixes.
Like a teacher checking your homework to make sure you followed all the steps and pointing out what to fix.
The company hired an outside firm to carry out an audit of last year's spending.
After the audit, managers fixed several problems with how money was tracked.
Similarreview, inspection, examination, check
2
verbtransitive
To carefully check a system's records to test how safe its data is and make sure rules are followed.
Like a safety inspector checking a building to make sure it is safe and follows the rules.
Specialists audit the network every year to find weak spots in its security.
They asked an outside team to audit the payroll system after the breach.
Similarreview, inspect, examine, assess, check
Note
3
verbtransitive
To check the numbers in an account and correct any mistakes.
Like checking your math homework and fixing the sums that came out wrong.
Accountants audit the books at the end of each month.
She will audit the small business's accounts before tax season.
Similarcheck, examine, inspect, verify, review
Note
4
verbtransitive
To sit in on a class to learn, but without getting a grade or credit for it.
Like sitting in on a game to learn the rules without keeping score.
Retired people can audit classes at the local college for free.
I want to audit the history course this fall.
Note
5
nouncountable
The final, corrected account that auditors produce after checking the records.
Like the final, corrected version of a report after the teacher has marked it.
The final audit listed every figure the accountants had corrected.
We mailed a copy of the audit to each shareholder.
Similarstatement, report
Note
6
nouncountable
A careful check or examination of something.
Like going through your bag to check that nothing is missing.
The teacher did a quick audit of the supplies in the classroom.
Before the trip, we ran an audit of everything in the backpack.
Similarreview, inspection, examination, assessment, check
7
nouncountable
A legal check of something carried out by a court.
Like a judge carefully checking the facts before making a decision.
The court ordered an audit of the disputed estate.
A judge called for an audit of the witness's claims.
Similarexamination, review, inquiry
Note
8
verbtransitive
To give someone spiritual guidance, as practiced in Scientology.
Like a guide who helps you talk through your past to feel better.
Trained counselors audit new members during their first weeks.
He hopes to audit people who are new to the church.
Similarcounsel
Note
9
noununcountable
Spiritual counseling that lies at the heart of Dianetics.
Like regular talks with a guide who helps you sort out your feelings.
Members pay for hours of audit to work through their problems.
She said the audit helped her feel calmer.
Note

Less common meanings

10
nounobsolete
A meeting where someone is given a chance to be heard.
With his Oriſons I meddle not, for hee appeals to a high Audit.
1649, J[ohn] Milton, ΕΙΚΟΝΟΚΛΆΣΤΗΣ [Eikonoklástēs]Here, Audit means a hearing, a chance to be heard by someone higher.
Note
11
nounobsolete
Something that takes in and holds things of many kinds, a place where everything ends up.
, "A Funeral Sermon" It [a little brook] paid to its common audit no more than the revenues of a little cloud.
Here, audit means a place that receives and holds whatever flows into it.
Note

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of audit apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origin

From Latin audio, meaning "I hear." The "examine" meaning came about because checks were first done out loud, and the examiner listened.