trial balance

noun

, Bookkeeping.

1. a statement of all the open debit and credit items, made preliminary to balancing a double-entry ledger.

trial balance

noun

1. accounting a statement of all the debit and credit balances in the ledger of a double-entry system, drawn up to test their equality

Word History and Origins

Origin of trial balance¹

First recorded in 1830–40

Example Sentences

The Batavian Republic now could make up a little trial balance.

From Project Gutenberg

The quarterly review will then be indeed his trial balance.

From Project Gutenberg

This is as if a merchant should never balance his books, or, taking a trial balance, should be heedless of the result.

From Project Gutenberg

These influences cannot yet be weighed and known—not until account has been taken of all the factors in the world's life problem, the grand totals cast up and the trial balance made.

From Project Gutenberg

To Washington came suave, balding Sir Frederick Phillips, British Treasury Under Secretary, m his brief case a trial balance of British finances, a survey of British holdings in the U. S. Day Sir Frederick landed, RFC Chairman Jesse H. Jones laconically said: "Britain is a good risk for a loan."

From Time Magazine Archive