Word

audit

noun C1

UK /ˈɔːdɪt/

US /ˈoːdɪt/

Meanings

noun

an official examination of financial accounts or business records

noun

a systematic review to check quality, compliance, or performance in a process or organization

verb

to officially examine accounts, records, or procedures to verify accuracy or compliance

Definition

An audit is an official check of accounts, records, or systems to see if they are accurate and compliant.

An audit is a careful, formal review of an organization’s accounts, records, or procedures. It is done to confirm that information is accurate and that rules or standards are being followed. Audits are often carried out by independent auditors, but they can also be internal. The process usually involves examining documents, testing controls, and reporting findings.

Examples

Our company scheduled an audit to verify that the expense reports matched the supporting receipts.
She managed the audit confidently, answering detailed questions about how the data was collected and stored.
I had to prepare for the audit by organizing emails, invoices, and approval records into a clear timeline.
They completed the audit in three days, then delivered a concise summary of risks and recommendations.
You should expect the audit to include sampling, follow-up questions, and requests for additional documentation.

Common mistake

Learners sometimes confuse audit with edit, but an audit checks and verifies records while an edit changes or rewrites content.