fiscal

adjective
fis·​cal | \ ˈfi-skəl How to pronounce fiscal (audio) \

Definition of fiscal

 (Entry 1 of 2)

1 : of or relating to taxation, public revenues, or public debt fiscal policy the city's fiscal requirements
2 : of or relating to financial matters fiscal transactions

fiscal

noun

Definition of fiscal (Entry 2 of 2)

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Other Words from fiscal

Adjective

fiscally \ ˈfi-​skə-​lē How to pronounce fiscally (audio) \ adverb

Synonyms & Antonyms for fiscal

Synonyms: Adjective

dollars-and-cents, financial, monetary, pecuniary, pocket

Antonyms: Adjective

nonfinancial

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Did You Know?

Adjective

Fiscal derives from the Latin noun fiscus, meaning "basket" or "treasury." In ancient Rome, "fiscus" was the term for the treasury controlled by the emperor, where the money was literally stored in baskets and was collected primarily in the form of revenue from the provinces. "Fiscus" also gives us our word confiscate, which now means "to seize" but once referred to the forfeiting of private property to public use. Today we find "fiscal" in a number of phrases, including "fiscal year" (referring to a 12-month accounting period not necessarily coinciding with the calendar year) and "fiscal cliff," a term that rose to prominence in the U.S. in 2012 when much attention was focused on a series of anticipated year-end tax increases and spending cuts.

Examples of fiscal in a Sentence

Adjective

the fiscal health of the university gained some fiscal knowledge by taking an economics course

Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective

The fiscal risk report consists of a lengthy checklist of questions about the financial practices and conditions that contribute to school districts’ financial health. San Diego Union-Tribune, "Vista schools at risk of financial problems, report warns," 6 Sep. 2019 Revenue will be $154 million to $156 million in the fiscal third quarter, reflecting a year-over-year increase of 46% to 48%, the San Francisco company said Wednesday. Los Angeles Times, "Slack projects slower sales growth, and its stock slumps," 4 Sep. 2019 For this, Trichet was seen as a steady hand doing the bidding of the fiscal hawks in the EU’s northern member states. Bernhard Warner, Fortune, "Deutsche Bank’s CEO Takes on the European Central Bank: ‘Negative Rates Ruin the Financial System’," 4 Sep. 2019 One is enough for me since my little girl is so amazing and laser-focussed on fiscal success. Ginny Hogan, The New Yorker, "As the Father of a Daughter, It Upsets Me That Women Don’t Get Paid as Much as Men, Because Who Will Support Me in My Old Age?," 3 Sep. 2019 The handsets will likely go on sale in September, contributing to fiscal fourth-quarter sales. Bloomberg News, The Denver Post, "Apple readies camera-focused Pro iPhones, new iPads, larger MacBook Pro," 31 Aug. 2019 The city’s community development corporation, One South Euclid, will again serve as the event’s fiscal sponsor, while signature sponsors are University Suburban Health Center and University Hospitals. cleveland.com, "South Euclid invites residents to Harvest Fest Sept. 7, Browns Monday Night Football tailgate Sept. 16," 30 Aug. 2019 For Multnomah County, the state’s contribution fell from $54.1 million in the 2017-2019 fiscal biennium to $48.6 million for 2019-2021. oregonlive.com, "Multnomah County officials sound alarm on inadequate state funding for jail deputies, probation officers," 27 Aug. 2019 Viacom's film unit posted adjusted operating income of $85 million for the fiscal third quarter, up 93 percent from $44 million in the year-ago period. Georg Szalai, The Hollywood Reporter, "Viacom Posts Higher Film Profit, U.S. Ad Revenue as CBS Deal Talks Continue," 8 Aug. 2019

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

The treasurer doesn't have much authority to set the state's fiscal or any other type of policy. Julia O'donoghue, NOLA.com, "Should Louisiana elect its state treasurer?," 13 Oct. 2017 If approved, the plan could raise $435 million through 2019, according to an April fiscal analysis of HB 2186. Joseph O’sullivan, The Seattle Times, "Legislators look at compromise ideas to raise more revenue," 5 June 2017 This year that is not an option if Republicans want to advance their ambitious fiscal... Kate Davidson, WSJ, "GOP’s Path to Tax Changes Slowed by Upcoming Budget Fight," 18 May 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'fiscal.' 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

Adjective

1563, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1869, in the meaning defined at sense 1

History and Etymology for fiscal

Adjective and Noun

Latin fiscalis, from fiscus basket, treasury

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More Definitions for fiscal

fiscal

adjective

English Language Learners Definition of fiscal

: of or relating to money and especially to the money a government, business, or organization earns, spends, and owes

fiscal

adjective
fis·​cal | \ ˈfis-kəl How to pronounce fiscal (audio) \

Legal Definition of fiscal

1 : of or relating to taxation, public revenues, or public debt fiscal policy
2 : of or relating to financial matters

Other Words from fiscal

fiscally adverb

History and Etymology for fiscal

Latin fiscalis, from fiscus basket, treasury

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