The amount of expense recognized in the current period that reflects the allocation of capitalized costs associated with acquisition of business. As a noncash expense, this element is added back to net income when calculating cash provided by or used in operations using the indirect method.

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 28
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=118932676&loc=d3e3602-108585

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 350
-SubTopic 30
-Section 45
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6388964&loc=d3e16225-109274

Segment reporting (Details) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended			9 Months Ended
Segment reporting (Details) $ in Millions	May 31, 2019 USD ($)	Aug. 31, 2018 USD ($)	May 31, 2018 USD ($)	May 31, 2019 USD ($) segment	May 31, 2018 USD ($)
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of reportable segments \| segment				3
Segment Reporting Information, Operating Income (Loss) [Abstract]
Sales	$ 34,591		$ 34,334	$ 102,912	$ 98,095
Adjusted operating income	1,717		1,943	5,384	5,909
Acquisition-related amortization	(127)		(131)	(373)	(329)
Transformational cost management	(86)			(265)
Acquisition-related costs	(80)		(57)	(228)	(173)
Adjustments to equity earnings in AmerisourceBergen	(137)		(60)	(191)	(136)
Store optimization	(49)		(24)	(99)	(24)
LIFO provision	(29)		(69)	(77)	(166)
Certain legal and regulatory accruals and settlements	(7)		(5)	(31)	(120)
Asset recovery					15
Hurricane-related costs					(83)
Operating income	1,203		1,597	4,120	4,893
Reportable segments \| Retail Pharmacy USA
Segment Reporting Information, Operating Income (Loss) [Abstract]
Sales	26,513		25,917	78,491	72,884
Adjusted operating income	1,286		1,492	4,119	4,520
Reportable segments \| Retail Pharmacy International
Segment Reporting Information, Operating Income (Loss) [Abstract]
Sales	2,776		2,995	8,759	9,395
Adjusted operating income	165		193	553	674
Reportable segments \| Pharmaceutical Wholesale
Segment Reporting Information, Operating Income (Loss) [Abstract]
Sales	5,865		5,965	17,311	17,438
Adjusted operating income	265		258	710	714
Eliminations
Segment Reporting Information, Operating Income (Loss) [Abstract]
Sales	(563)		(543)	(1,649)	(1,622)
Adjusted operating income	$ 1		$ 0	$ 1	$ 1
November 30, 2017 legal and regulatory accruals and settlements
Segment Reporting Information, Operating Income (Loss) [Abstract]
Adjustments to financial statements to present non-GAAP measures		$ 14
February 28, 2018 legal and regulatory accruals and settlements
Segment Reporting Information, Operating Income (Loss) [Abstract]
Adjustments to financial statements to present non-GAAP measures		50
May 31, 2018 legal and regulatory accruals and settlements
Segment Reporting Information, Operating Income (Loss) [Abstract]
Adjustments to financial statements to present non-GAAP measures		$ 5