# fiscal

Pronunciation: US say "FIS-kuhl" /ˈfɪskəl/; UK

## Adjective

1. Relating to a government or organization's treasury, especially its spending and the money it takes in.
   - Simple: Having to do with how a government collects and spends money.
   - _The finance minister outlined new fiscal measures aimed at reducing the deficit._
   - _Critics argued the administration's fiscal policy favored short-term growth over stability._
2. Relating to the twelve-month accounting period used for budgeting and financial reporting rather than the calendar year.
   - Simple: Having to do with the twelve-month period a business or government uses for its accounts.
   - _The agency closed the fiscal year with a small surplus._
   - _Profits rose sharply in the final quarter of the fiscal year._
3. Relating to money and financial matters in general.
   - Simple: Having to do with money and finances in general.
   - _The report examined the fiscal impact of the merger on shareholders._
   - _His fiscal advice helped the startup manage its early cash flow._

## Noun

4. An official in certain countries responsible for controlling public revenue.
   - Simple: An official in some countries who is in charge of public money.
   - _The fiscal presented the year's revenue figures to the council._
   - _As fiscal, she oversaw every payment into the public treasury._
5. In Scotland, the public prosecutor responsible for investigating crimes and bringing cases before the court; short for procurator fiscal.
   - Simple: In Scotland, the public official who decides whether to bring criminal cases to court.
   - _The fiscal declined to prosecute, citing insufficient evidence._
   - _Witnesses gave statements to the fiscal before the trial began._
6. In countries such as Spain, Portugal, and the Netherlands and their former colonies, a senior government lawyer equivalent to a solicitor or attorney general.
   - Simple: In some countries, a top government lawyer, similar to an attorney general.
   - _The fiscal filed charges against the former minister for corruption._
   - _As fiscal, he represented the government in every major prosecution._
7. A public prosecutor in the UK, or the equivalent district attorney in the US, who brings criminal charges on behalf of the state. *(Philippines)*
   - Simple: A government lawyer who brings criminal cases against people in court.
   - _The fiscal opened the trial by outlining the evidence against the accused._
   - _Defense lawyers complained that the fiscal had withheld key documents._
8. Any of various African shrikes of the genus Lanius, small predatory songbirds that hunt insects and small animals.
   - Simple: A black-and-white African bird that hunts insects and small animals.
   - _The fiscal darted from its perch to seize a grasshopper._
   - _Several fiscals patrolled the thornbush, each guarding its territory._

## Origin

**Meanings 1–6** — From Middle French fiscal, which came from Latin fiscus, meaning "treasury."
**Meaning 7** — From Spanish fiscal, ultimately from Latin fiscus, meaning "treasury."
**Meaning 8** — Named after Afrikaans fiskaal, meaning "public official" or "hangman."

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/fiscal (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).