Definitions for "General Journal"
The simplest and most flexible type of journal.
In financial accounting the general journal is used for any entries that are not suitable for the other journals (Cash Receipts, Cash Payments, Purchases and Sales Journals). Generally these are: Adjustment of errors, closing of nominal accounts, opening a new set of books, interest and overdue accounts, depreciation of non-current assets, purchase and sale of assets on credit, writing-off of bad and doubtful debts, withdrawal of goods for private use
A journal for recording transactions that are infrequent or unusual, such as depreciation and adjustments to accounts. Contrasted with frequent entries, such as sales, that are entered in a Sales journal. See also journal and adjusting journal entries.