Word
fiscal
Phoneticsfis·cal, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈfɪskəɫ/
UK/fˈɪskəl/
Definitions
01government money and taxes
B2 · Upper Intermediate Academic
adj. related to the money a government collects through taxes and how it chooses to spend that money.
adj. pertaining to government finances, specifically regarding public revenue, taxation, and expenditure policies.
“The government announced a new fiscal policy to help the country's economy grow.”
“Economists debated whether the proposed fiscal stimulus would be sufficient to offset the projected decline in private sector investment.”
Pitfall
The bank changed its fiscal policy.
The bank changed its monetary policy.
Use 'fiscal' for government spending and taxes; use 'monetary' for central bank actions like interest rates.
02the budget year
B2 · Upper Intermediate Technical
adj. related to a twelve-month period used by a company or government for its budget and taxes.
adj. denoting a twelve-month period used for calculating annual financial statements in businesses and government departments.
“The company reported record profits for the last fiscal year.”
“The department was required to exhaust its remaining budget before the end of the fiscal year to avoid funding cuts in the next cycle.”
Synonyms
03a legal official
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Law Formal · Technical
n. a title for a public prosecutor or a high-level lawyer for the government in some countries.
n. a public official, such as a prosecutor or attorney general, in specific jurisdictions including Scotland, the Philippines, and the Netherlands.
“The fiscal presented the evidence against the suspect during the trial.”
“In the Scottish legal system, the procurator fiscal is responsible for the investigation and prosecution of crime.”
Usage
Often used as part of the title 'Procurator Fiscal' in British English (Scotland).
Synonyms
Real-World Examples
“For the 2025 fiscal year, Michigan’s education budget was more than US$21 billion , and education accounted for more than 25% of state spending.” “However, building a preventive state will come with challenges for a prime minister hemmed in by the UK’s current tight fiscal predicament, and who is in a hurry to show progress.” Etymology
From Middle French fiscal, from Latin fiscus (“treasury”) – see fiscus and fisc.
From Spanish fiscal, ultimately from Latin fiscus (“treasury”).
After Afrikaans fiskaal (“public official, hangman”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
Related words
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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