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fiscal year

noun

Definition of fiscal year

: an accounting period of 12 months

Examples of fiscal year in a Sentence

Sales were up in the last fiscal year. Our fiscal year runs from October 1 to September 30.

Recent Examples on the Web

 In fiscal year 2017, USCIS received a record-high 62,990 U visa applications. — Gustavo Solis, San Diego Union-Tribune, "Fewer immigrants apply for special visa reserved for crime victims," 1 Sep. 2019 Child support services, which were provided to about 346,000 parents and nearly 240,000 children in fiscal year 2017. — Dave Orrick, Twin Cities, "Departing Minnesota DHS commissioner says state should break up the agency," 30 Aug. 2019 In fiscal year 2018—which ran from October 1, 2017 through September 30, 2018—B visa applicants from around 50 countries were more likely to have their application refused than accepted. — Dan Kopf, Quartz, "What are the chances of being rejected for a travel visa to the US?," 28 Aug. 2019 In fiscal year 2017 — one of America's most destructive wildfire seasons on record — the U.S. Forest Service spent more than $2.4 billion in firefighting costs. — NBC News, "Why it will take more than $20M to help Brazil put out Amazon fires," 27 Aug. 2019 Its former owner, Tenet Healthcare, had lost $15 million on Hahnemann and St. Christopher's in fiscal year 2017. — Lydia Depillis, CNN, "Buy a failing hospital and profit. This could be a dangerous new playbook for rich investors," 29 July 2019 Rhode Island has spent more than $140,000 on the project since fiscal year 2017. — Amanda Milkovits, BostonGlobe.com, "Historic flags remain in storage, more than two years after they were removed from State House for restoration," 15 July 2019 The four Arizona refuges included in the study added nearly $26 million to the economy in visitor spending and state and local tax revenue in fiscal year 2017, according to the report. — Jeannette Hinkle, azcentral, "Arizona's national wildlife refuges add millions to the economy, according to study," 12 July 2019 In fiscal year 2017, ICE arrested 173 Iraqis in Michigan. — Niraj Warikoo, Detroit Free Press, "Michigan has 2nd highest rate of ICE arrests of immigrants," 26 June 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'fiscal year.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of fiscal year

1843, in the meaning defined above

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More Definitions for fiscal year

fiscal year

noun

Financial Definition of fiscal year

What It Is

A fiscal year is an accounting period of 365(6) days that does not necessarily correspond to the calendar year beginning on January 1st. The fiscal year is the established period of time when an organization's annual financial records commence and conclude.

How It Works

A company's fiscal year will always reflect the date of the calendar year in which it ends. For example: The financial operations of the federal government are carried out in a fiscal year that begins on October 1 and ends on September 30. Therefore the government's fiscal year for 2008 would begin on October 1, 2007 and end on September 30, 2008.

Why It Matters

The key thing to remember is that a fiscal year doesn't necessarily correspond with the calendar year. Although it may not seem like very important, when a company starts its fiscal year can have an impact on its fundamental analysis. This is especially true of cyclical companies.

Consider a retailer that has an incredible first quarter. An investor may look at that company and think it will probably post even higher earnings during the end of the year, during the holiday season. However, if that company started its fiscal year in September, then its first quarter earnings will have already encompassed the higher sales that accompany the holiday shopping season, and the remaining three quarters will most likely be a little lower.

Source: Investing Answers

fiscal year

noun

English Language Learners Definition of fiscal year

chiefly US : a 12-month period used by a government, business, or organization to calculate how much money is being earned, spent, etc.

See the full definition for fiscal year in the English Language Learners Dictionary

fiscal year

noun

Legal Definition of fiscal year

: an accounting period of 12 months

More from Merriam-Webster on fiscal year

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with fiscal year

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