A spreadsheet is a very powerful computerized ledger. In the accounting world a spreadsheet originated as a large sheet of paper that set everything out for a businessperson. It spreads or shows all of the costs, income, taxes, etc. In the business world a spreadsheet enables a decision maker to see summarized information from many sources in one place. The spreadsheet can be used for recording actual results or hypothetical results.
Spreadsheets have numerous other business and personal uses.
Another example of a spreadsheet is one used to calculate mortgages.