: relating to or being a method of accounting that recognizes income when earned and expenses when incurred regardless of when cash is received or disbursed (see disburse sense 1a) compare cash entry 2
Synonyms
Examples of accrual in a Sentence
Noun
had an accrual of $100 through interest on my savings account last year
Recent Examples on the Web
Refinery29 Australia Team, refinery29.com, 1 July 2024
The company expects its total accrual in legal proceeding contingencies related to the lawsuit to reach $434 million during the first quarter of fiscal year 2025, from $100 million at the end of fiscal 2024.
—Reuters, CNN, 21 June 2024
Cheyenne Haslett, ABC News, 1 July 2024
If the health and pension plans have sufficient reserves, pension benefit accrual rates will increase 15 percent for the next three years and retirees who retired before August 1, 2009 will receive 13th and 14th checks each year of the deal.
—Katie Kilkenny, The Hollywood Reporter, 1 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for accrual 
Noun
High Interest Savings Account with 5.5% interest (monthly accrual).
—Refinery29 Australia Team, refinery29.com, 1 July 2024
The company expects its total accrual in legal proceeding contingencies related to the lawsuit to reach $434 million during the first quarter of fiscal year 2025, from $100 million at the end of fiscal 2024.
—Reuters, CNN, 21 June 2024
Adjective
In addition to offering the lowest monthly payment for most borrowers, the plan also shields borrowers from unpaid interest accrual, one of the largest additional fees that borrowers face on their loans.
—Cheyenne Haslett, ABC News, 1 July 2024
If the health and pension plans have sufficient reserves, pension benefit accrual rates will increase 15 percent for the next three years and retirees who retired before August 1, 2009 will receive 13th and 14th checks each year of the deal.
—Katie Kilkenny, The Hollywood Reporter, 1 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for accrual
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'accrual.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near accrual
Cite this Entry
“Accrual.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/accrual. Accessed 29 Jul. 2024.
Copy CitationLegal Definition
accrual
noun
ac·cru·al
ə-ˈkrü-əl 
1
: the action or process of accruing
claim must be brought within two years of the date of accrual
2
a
: something that accrues
especially
: an amount of money that periodically accumulates for a specific purpose (as payment of taxes or interest)
b
: something that has accrued during a specified period
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