an inspection of the accounting procedures and records by a trained accountant or CPA
"The company hired a certified public accountant to perform an audit of our financial records before filing the annual report."
a methodical examination or review of a condition or situation
"he made an audit of all the plants on his property"
"an energy efficiency audit"
"an email log audit"
A judicial examination.
"The committee appointed an external firm to audit the election results after reports of irregularities surfaced."
In plain English: An audit is an official check to see if money or records are correct and follow the rules.
"The annual audit revealed several errors in the company's financial records."
Usage: In everyday usage, an audit is a systematic review of financial records to ensure accuracy and compliance, not a legal or judicial proceeding. You should use this term when referring to an official inspection by accountants rather than a court trial or verdict.
examine carefully for accuracy with the intent of verification
"audit accounts and tax returns"
attend academic courses without getting credit
"He decided to audit the advanced photography class so he could learn from the professor without worrying about grades or credits."
To examine and adjust (e.g. an account).
"The company hired a firm to audit our accounts before filing the annual report."
In plain English: To audit something means to check it carefully to make sure everything is correct and honest.
"The accountant will audit the company's financial records this month."
Usage: To audit means to systematically examine financial records or processes to verify their accuracy. Use this verb when describing an official review intended to ensure compliance or detect errors.
The word audit comes from the Latin auditus, which means "heard," derived from the verb audiō ("I hear"). Its sense of examining accounts originated in oral hearings where examiners would listen to reports rather than just reading documents.