Accounting & Finance

A fiduciary is a person or organization that has the legal duty to act in the best interests of another party, typically in financial, legal, or corporate matters. Fiduciaries must avoid conflicts of interest and act with loyalty, care, and prudence. The term emphasizes trust-based responsibilities rather than ownership of assets.

Guarantee is a formal noun meaning a promise or assurance that a product, service, or outcome will meet certain standards, or be remedied if it fails. It implies a legal or formal commitment, often backed by terms and conditions. The concept emphasizes protection for the buyer and accountability for the provider, sometimes extending to a specific period.

Guaranty is a noun meaning a formal promise or assurance, typically guaranteeing the fulfillment of an obligation. It can also refer to the guarantee itself. The term is often used in legal, financial, or contractual contexts to denote a pledge of responsibility for debts or performance.

Intangible describes something that cannot be touched or easily grasped by the senses or intellect. It often refers to qualities, ideas, or values that exist in concept rather than as physical objects, such as intangible assets or intangible feelings. The term emphasizes non-physical, abstract nature and perception.

Intermediaries (noun) are people or entities that act as go-betweens to facilitate communication, negotiations, or transactions between two or more parties. They provide channels, brokers, or mediating services, often handling information flow, logistics, or dispute resolution. In legal and business contexts, intermediaries can influence outcomes by shaping access, timing, or interpretations of messages.

Intermediary is a person or thing acting as a mediator or link between parties or groups, especially to reconcile differences or facilitate communication. It can also describe an intermediate stage in a process or development. The term emphasizes a facilitating role rather than permanent authority, often with formal or informal authority to broker agreements or relay information.

Inventory (noun) refers to a detailed list of goods, assets, or items held by a person or organization, as well as the act of making such a list. It encompasses cataloging, counting, and assessing stock or possessions for management, valuation, or reporting purposes. In business, inventory tracking helps control costs and informs procurement decisions.

Issuance is the act of supplying or giving out something, such as documents, tickets, or permits. In professional contexts it often refers to the official distribution of items or documents by an organization. The term emphasizes the process and result of making something available to recipients, rather than the item itself.

Liability is a legal or financial obligation that someone is responsible for, such as debt or potential risk. It can also refer to the state of being legally answerable for something. In everyday use, it often describes financial exposure or responsibility that could lead to loss or liability insurance coverage.

Liquid is an adjective describing a substance that flows readily and has a definite volume but no fixed shape; it connotes fluidity and smoothness. In metaphorical use, it can describe ideas or movements that are seamless and adaptable, or a liquid tone in music or speech suggests smooth, continuous flow. It is often contrasted with solid and gas in physical contexts.

Liquidity is the ease with which an asset can be bought or sold in the market without affecting its price. It also refers to the availability of liquid assets to meet short‑term obligations. In finance, liquidity combines market depth, transactions volume, and time to convert to cash with minimal loss.

Loan (noun) refers to money lent with expectation of repayment or something lent for temporary use. It encompasses formal financial borrowing, informal borrowed items, and the act of providing funds to someone under agreed terms. The term also appears in phrases like loan agreement and loan shark, reflecting contracts, terms, and lending contexts.

A pension is a regular payment made to a person after retirement from an employer or the state, funded during working years. It also refers to a small residential building or house, often with a few rooms, historically used for lodging travelers. In modern contexts, it commonly means a retirement income or scheme.

Promissory is an adjective describing an obligation or promise, typically relating to a formal promise to pay or perform a duty. It is used in legal, financial, and contractual contexts to indicate that something is binding or contingent on a promise, rather than a mere suggestion. The term often appears in phrases like promissory note or promissory obligation, signaling a creditor's expectation based on a stated commitment.

Reconcile is a verb meaning to restore friendly relations or bring into harmony, often resolving a disagreement or differences to achieve compatibility. It can also refer to making two different things compatible or consistent with each other, or settling accounts. The term implies finding a peaceful or accepted middle ground after conflict or inconsistency.

Reconciled is an adjective describing the state of having settled differences or restored friendly relations. It implies a resolved conflict or dispute, often following negotiation or mediation, leading to harmony or agreement. The term emphasizes a completed process of bringing people or ideas into harmony rather than ongoing discord.

Reconciliation is the process of restoring friendly relations or harmony after a dispute. It can refer to mending personal relationships, aligning conflicting beliefs, or resolving differences between groups, often involving compromise, forgiveness, and mutual recognition. The term emphasizes healing and bringing opposed parties into a cooperative, peaceful agreement.

A noun meaning money returned to a payer, typically after a purchase or erroneous charge. It can also refer to the act of returning money in response to a policy or warranty. In everyday use, it denotes the reimbursement received or promised by a retailer or service provider.

Revenue is the income generated from selling goods or services, especially before expenses are deducted. In business and economics, it refers to the top-line figure reported on financial statements, representing the total earned before costs are subtracted. It is distinct from profit, which is revenue minus expenses. The word is commonly used in finance, accounting, and corporate reporting.

Risk (noun) refers to the possibility of loss, harm, or danger arising from a particular action or situation. It also denotes the level or extent of that possibility. It is commonly used to discuss uncertainties in scenarios like finance, health, or safety, and can function as both a count noun and an uncountable concept. In usage, it often appears with hedging or mitigation language.

Risks (noun, plural) refers to situations or actions involving exposure to danger or loss. It can also denote the possibility of negative outcomes in decision-making or future events. In finance or project assessment, risks quantify potential adverse effects and their probabilities. Context determines whether we discuss personal, strategic, or statistical risk.

Security refers to measures taken to guard against danger, theft, or unauthorized access, as well as the state of being protected. It also denotes a formal asset or investment used to generate income. In everyday use, it can describe safety protocols, information protection, or the condition of being secure.

Statutory is an adjective meaning related to or created by standing laws or statutes. It describes rules or obligations that are defined by law and must be followed. In legal and regulatory contexts, statutory provisions determine requirements, procedures, and penalties, as opposed to common law or administrative guidelines.

Subsidiaries are companies controlled by a parent company, operating as distinct legal entities. They function as separate units within a corporate group, often possessing independent management and financial reporting, while aligning with the parent’s overall strategy. The term is commonly used in business, law, and organizational discussions to describe subsidiary firms and their governance.