ENGLISH
REFERENCE

fiscal

adj. · n.
US //ˈfɪskəɫ// UK //fˈɪskəl// fis·cal
  1. 1 the budget year (adj.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    related to a twelve-month period used for calculating a company's or government's money.

    denoting a twelve-month period used for calculating annual financial statements, which may not align with the calendar year.

    Example

    The company's fiscal year ends in June rather than December.

    Example

    The department was forced to freeze all new hiring until the start of the next fiscal year to remain within the approved budget.

    • financial year
  2. 2 a legal official (n.)
    C1 Advanced Formal Technical Law

    a person in some countries who works as a public prosecutor or lawyer for the state.

    a public official or prosecutor in certain legal systems, such as those in Scotland, the Philippines, or the Netherlands.

    Example

    The fiscal presented the evidence against the suspect during the trial.

    Example

    In the Scottish legal system, the procurator fiscal is responsible for the investigation of all sudden or suspicious deaths.

Etymology 1

From Middle French fiscal, from Latin fiscus (“treasury”) – see fiscus and fisc.

Etymology 2

From Spanish fiscal, ultimately from Latin fiscus (“treasury”).

Etymology 3

After Afrikaans fiskaal (“public official, hangman”).

Word family

© 2026 English Reference