Fiscal means relating to government money: how it's collected through taxes and how it's spent on things like schools, roads, and public services. When politicians debate the fiscal budget, they're arguing about how much money the government should spend and on what.

You'll often hear about fiscal years, which are twelve-month periods that governments and companies use for planning their budgets. The U.S. government's fiscal year runs from October 1 to September 30, different from the calendar year. This gives officials time to plan spending before the new year begins.

Today, when someone describes a leader as fiscally responsible, they mean that person manages money carefully, not spending more than what's available. Fiscal policy refers to government decisions about taxing and spending that affect the whole economy.

Don't confuse fiscal with physical, which sounds similar but means relating to the body or material things. Fiscal is always about money and finances.