# GAO

/ˈɡaʊ/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/gao
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. US government agency

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal · Technical

Stands for Government Accountability Office. It is a group that watches how the US government spends money to make sure it is not wasted.

For teachers: Abbreviation for Government Accountability Office. A non-partisan agency within the legislative branch of the US government that audits and investigates federal spending.

- The GAO released a report saying the new project was too expensive.
- The GAO investigation revealed significant discrepancies in how the department allocated its emergency relief funds during the fiscal year.

Usage: Usually used with the definite article 'the' when referring to the agency.

Teaching tip: This is a high-level term mostly found in news reports about US politics or economics.

## Examples

- The GAO released a report on military spending.
- Congress requested that the GAO investigate the efficiency of the new healthcare subsidies.
- By providing objective data on federal programs, the GAO serves as a critical check on executive branch spending and helps ensure legislative oversight remains grounded in fiscal reality.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.