Standard Lemma guide

audit

noun · verb · 15 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • Received-Pronunciation: /ˈɔːdɪt/
  • Australian, British, New-Zealand, Southern, Standard: /ˈoːdɪt/
  • /ˈɔdɪt/ without the cot–caught merger
  • cot-caught-merger: /ˈɑdɪt/
  • California: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • Scotland: /ˈɔdɪt/
  • rhymes with -ɔːdɪt
  • CMU ARPABET: AO1 D IH0 T Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

noun

Meaning 1

A judicial examination.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

An examination in general.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

An independent review and examination of records and activities to assess the adequacy of system controls, to ensure compliance with established policies and operational procedures, and to recommend necessary changes in controls, policies, or procedures

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • National Assembly audit

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

noun

Meaning 4

The result of such an examination, or an account as adjusted by auditors; final account.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

noun

Meaning 5

Spiritual counseling, which forms the core of Dianetics.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: Scientology, lifestyle, religion

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

6

noun

Meaning 6

A general receptacle or receiver.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: obsolete

Examples

  • , "A Funeral Sermon" It [a little brook] paid to its common audit no more than the revenues of a little cloud.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

7

noun

Meaning 7

An audience; a hearing.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: obsolete

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

8

verb

Meaning 8

To examine and adjust (e.g. an account).

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Examples

  • to audit the accounts of a treasure, or of parties who have a suit depending in court

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

9

verb

Meaning 9

To conduct an independent review and examination of system records and activities in order to test the adequacy and effectiveness of data security and data integrity procedures, to ensure compliance with established policy and operational procedures, and to recommend any necessary changes

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Topics: business, finance

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

10

verb

Meaning 10

To counsel spiritually.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Topics: Scientology, lifestyle, religion

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

11

verb

Meaning 11

To attend an academic class without the opportunity to receive academic credit.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

12

noun

Meaning 12

a methodical examination or review of a condition or situation

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • he made an audit of all the plants on his property
  • an energy efficiency audit
  • an email log audit

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: examination, scrutiny

13

noun

Meaning 13

an inspection of the accounting procedures and records by a trained accountant or CPA

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: audited account

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: accounting, accounting system, method of accounting

Narrower terms: financial audit, limited audit

14

verb

Meaning 14

attend academic courses without getting credit

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: learn, study, read, take

15

verb

Meaning 15

examine carefully for accuracy with the intent of verification

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • audit accounts and tax returns

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: scrutinize, scrutinise, inspect

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: analyze, analyse, study, examine, canvass, canvas

History

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin audītus, from audiō (“to hear”). The sense of examine is because examinations were originally presented orally, and the examiner listened.

Across languages

Translations

119 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Finnish: yleisö — audience, hearing
  • Finnish: kuulijakunta — audience, hearing
  • Finnish: lukijakunta — audience, hearing
  • German: Audienz — audience, hearing
  • Hungarian: meghallgatás — audience, hearing
  • Hungarian: kihallgatás — audience, hearing
  • Italian: udienza — audience, hearing
  • Finnish: tarkastus — judicial examination
  • Finnish: valvontatarkastus — judicial examination
  • German: Revision — judicial examination
  • Japanese: 監査 (kansa) — judicial examination
  • Kazakh: аудит (audit) — judicial examination
  • Polish: audyt — judicial examination
  • Russian: ауди́т (audít) — judicial examination
  • Russian: реви́зия (revízija) — judicial examination
  • Ukrainian: авди́т (avdýt) — judicial examination
  • Azerbaijani: yoxlama — examination in general
  • Azerbaijani: təftiş — examination in general
  • Bulgarian: прове́рка (provérka) — examination in general
  • Catalan: auditoria — examination in general
  • Chinese Mandarin: 檢查 /检查 (jiǎnchá) — examination in general
  • Finnish: tarkastus — examination in general
  • French: inspection — examination in general
  • German: Überprüfung — examination in general
  • German: Prüfung — examination in general
  • Hungarian: ellenőrzés — examination in general
  • Hungarian: vizsgálat — examination in general
  • Hungarian: felmérés — examination in general
  • Hungarian: felülvizsgálat — examination in general
  • Italian: ispezione — examination in general
  • Italian: verifica — examination in general
  • Japanese: 監査 (kansa) — examination in general
  • Korean: 검사 (geomsa) — examination in general
  • Māori: arotaupū — examination in general
  • Portuguese: auditoria — examination in general
  • Russian: прове́рка (provérka) — examination in general
  • Spanish: auditoría — examination in general
  • Spanish: auditaje — examination in general
  • Spanish: auditoraje — examination in general
  • Spanish: interventoría — examination in general
  • Swedish: granskning — examination in general
  • Turkish: denetim — examination in general
  • Armenian: աուդիտ (audit) — independent review
  • Bulgarian: реви́зия (revízija) — independent review
  • Bulgarian: одит (odit) — independent review
  • Chinese Mandarin: 審計 /审计 (shěnjì) — independent review
  • Czech: audit — independent review
  • Finnish: tarkastus — independent review
  • Finnish: auditointi — independent review
  • French: audit — independent review
  • Galician: auditoría — independent review
  • German: Buchprüfung — independent review
  • German: Bilanzprüfung — independent review
  • German: Kontrolle — independent review
  • German: Audit — independent review
  • Hungarian: felülvizsgálat — independent review
  • Hungarian: ellenőrzés — independent review
  • Hungarian: revízió — independent review
  • Hungarian: audit — independent review
  • Hungarian: auditálás — independent review
  • Hungarian: könyvvizsgálat — independent review
  • Italian: revisione — independent review
  • Italian: audit — independent review
  • Japanese: 監査 (kansa) — independent review
  • Kazakh: аудит (audit) — independent review
  • Manx: scrutaghey — independent review
  • Māori: arotakenga — independent review
  • Māori: tātari kaute — independent review
  • Māori: arotake pūtea — independent review
  • Norwegian: revisjon — independent review
  • Norwegian: regnskapskontroll — independent review
  • Norwegian: bokettersyn — independent review
  • Persian: ممیزی (mamizi) — independent review
  • Polish: audyt — independent review
  • Portuguese: auditoria — independent review
  • Russian: ауди́т (audít) — independent review
  • Russian: реви́зия (revízija) — independent review
  • Russian: инспе́кция (inspékcija) — independent review
  • Serbo-Croatian: ревизија — independent review
  • Serbo-Croatian: revizija — independent review
  • Spanish: auditoría — independent review
  • Swahili: ukaguzi — independent review
  • Finnish: tarkastus — result of such an examination
  • Finnish: tarkastuskertomus — result of such an examination
  • German: umfassender Untersuchungsbericht — result of such an examination
  • Finnish: auditointi — Scientology: spiritual counseling
  • Catalan: controlar — to examine and adjust
  • Catalan: examinar — to examine and adjust
  • Dutch: verifiëren — to examine and adjust
  • Finnish: tarkastaa — to examine and adjust
  • German: kontrollieren — to examine and adjust
  • German: prüfen — to examine and adjust
  • German: verifizieren — to examine and adjust
  • Italian: esaminare — to examine and adjust
  • Italian: controllare — to examine and adjust
  • Italian: analizzare — to examine and adjust
  • Manx: scrutee — to examine and adjust
  • Māori: arotake — to examine and adjust
  • Bulgarian: одитирам (oditiram) — finance, business: to conduct an independent review and examination
  • Bulgarian: правя ревизия (pravja revizija) — finance, business: to conduct an independent review and examination
  • Catalan: auditar — finance, business: to conduct an independent review and examination
  • Chinese Mandarin: 審計 /审计 (shěnjì) — finance, business: to conduct an independent review and examination
  • Finnish: tarkastaa — finance, business: to conduct an independent review and examination
  • Finnish: auditoida — finance, business: to conduct an independent review and examination
  • Galician: auditar — finance, business: to conduct an independent review and examination
  • Italian: esaminare — finance, business: to conduct an independent review and examination
  • Japanese: 監査する (kansa suru) — finance, business: to conduct an independent review and examination
  • Manx: scrutee — finance, business: to conduct an independent review and examination
  • Māori: arotake — finance, business: to conduct an independent review and examination
  • Portuguese: auditar — finance, business: to conduct an independent review and examination
  • Spanish: auditar — finance, business: to conduct an independent review and examination
  • Spanish: pelotear — finance, business: to conduct an independent review and examination
  • Finnish: auditoida — Scientology: to counsel spiritually
  • Chinese Cantonese: sit堂 (sit1 tong4) — to attend an academic class on a not-for-academic-credit basis
  • Chinese Mandarin: 旁聽 /旁听 (pángtīng) — to attend an academic class on a not-for-academic-credit basis
  • Chinese Mandarin: 蹭課 /蹭课 (cèngkè) — to attend an academic class on a not-for-academic-credit basis
  • Finnish: kuunnella — to attend an academic class on a not-for-academic-credit basis
  • Finnish: olla kuunteluoppilaana — to attend an academic class on a not-for-academic-credit basis
  • German: gasthören — to attend an academic class on a not-for-academic-credit basis
Real reading context

audit in complete knowledge articles