1
a
: a formal examination of an organization's or individual's accounts or financial situation
The audit showed that the company had misled investors.
b
: the final report of an audit
2
: a methodical examination and review
an energy audit of the house
audited; auditing; audits
1
: to perform an audit of or for
audit the books
audit the company
2
: to attend (a course) without working for or expecting to receive formal credit
audited a foreign language course
Examples of audit in a Sentence
Noun
The Internal Revenue Service selected us for an audit.
You will need all your records if you are selected for audit by the IRS.
Verb
They audit the company books every year.
The Internal Revenue Service audited him twice in 10 years.
I audited an English literature class last semester.
Recent Examples on the Web
Marissa Meador, IndyStar, 10 Oct. 2025
The school agreed to pay $705,000 to resolve the audit issues, plus a $294,000 fine to close the review of its job placement data.
—Gene Maddaus, Variety, 9 Oct. 2025
Matthew Medsger, Boston Herald, 13 Oct. 2025
Two independent Russian journalists reported in August that the FSB gave Max’s developers specifications for how to handle users’ personal data and demanded to be able to audit the app.
—Justin Sherman, The Atlantic, 11 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for audit
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Noun
But behind the scenes, Republican insiders say there’s anything but silence about the audit, describing a flurry of private conversations where people from various wings of the party are trying to both deflect and cast blame.
—Marissa Meador, IndyStar, 10 Oct. 2025
The school agreed to pay $705,000 to resolve the audit issues, plus a $294,000 fine to close the review of its job placement data.
—Gene Maddaus, Variety, 9 Oct. 2025
Verb
This, on top of the shady Mass Pike service plaza deal, the Mercedes cab contract, and the failure to audit the legislature.
—Matthew Medsger, Boston Herald, 13 Oct. 2025
Two independent Russian journalists reported in August that the FSB gave Max’s developers specifications for how to handle users’ personal data and demanded to be able to audit the app.
—Justin Sherman, The Atlantic, 11 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for audit
Cite this Entry
“Audit.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/audit. Accessed 17 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
audit
1 of 2 noun
au·dit
ˈȯd-ət 
1
: a thorough check of accounts especially of a business
2
: a careful check or review
an energy audit of our house
audit
2 of 2 verb
: to make an audit of
Legal Definition
audit
noun
au·dit
ˈȯ-dət
: a formal examination of financial records often to uncover fraud or inaccurate tax returns
also
: the final report of such an examination
audit
verb
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