billings: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Business/Finance, Professional, Journalistic
Quick answer
What does “billings” mean?
The total amount of money charged by a person or company for goods or services delivered or rendered, typically over a specific period.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The total amount of money charged by a person or company for goods or services delivered or rendered, typically over a specific period.
1. The process of sending invoices to clients. 2. The act of promoting something or someone in publicity. 3. A surname. 4. A city in Montana, USA. In the context of media/entertainment, it also refers to the order and prominence given to performers' names in publicity materials.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant semantic difference. The word is used identically in financial and business contexts. In legal/parliamentary contexts, UK English has the historical 'Billingsgate' (a fish market known for coarse language).
Connotations
Neutral and professional in both varieties.
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in American English due to the city name 'Billings, Montana' and possibly its slightly more common use in corporate financial reporting.
Grammar
How to Use “billings” in a Sentence
Billings + from + [source]Billings + of + [amount]Billings + for + [period/service]Billings + at + [company/agency]Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
The agency reported a 15% increase in quarterly billings.
Academic
The study analysed the correlation between advertising spend and subsequent client billings in the service sector.
Everyday
Our plumbing company's billings were higher this month because of all the emergency call-outs.
Technical
The software's billing module aggregates all client billings and generates financial reports.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “billings”
- Using it as a singular noun (e.g., 'a billing of £100' is less common; prefer 'an invoice for £100').
- Confusing 'billings' with 'profits' or 'cash in the bank'.
- Misspelling as 'billlings'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not exactly. 'Billings' refers to the amount invoiced to customers. 'Revenue' is the income earned, which is recognised when the service is performed or product delivered, and may differ from billings due to accounting rules (e.g., for long-term contracts).
Often, but not always. 'Billing' typically refers to the process or system (e.g., 'the billing department'). 'Billings' refers to the monetary results of that process. They are not always interchangeable.
It originates from theatre and film, meaning the most prominent position in promotional materials (like posters). Figuratively, it means receiving the most attention or priority.
In its core financial sense, yes, it is almost always used as a plural noun. The singular 'a billing' is rare and usually refers to a single instance of the billing process. The city name 'Billings' is, of course, singular proper noun.
The total amount of money charged by a person or company for goods or services delivered or rendered, typically over a specific period.
Billings is usually business/finance, professional, journalistic in register.
Billings: in British English it is pronounced /ˈbɪlɪŋz/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈbɪlɪŋz/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “top billing (prominent position/attention)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'Billings' as 'BILL'-INGS' – the ongoing results of sending out BILLs.
Conceptual Metaphor
BUSINESS IS A FLOW: Billings represent the financial stream generated by a company's activities.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'billings' LEAST likely to be used?