Retirement benefits - balance sheet (Details) - Pension Plan - USD ($) $ in Millions	Aug. 31, 2019	Aug. 31, 2018
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Other non-current assets	$ 486	$ 554
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	(6)	(7)
Other non-current liabilities	(183)	(164)
Net asset (liability) recognized at end of year	$ 297	$ 383

Amount of asset (liability), recognized in statement of financial position, for defined benefit pension and other postretirement plans.

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- Definition

Amount of asset, recognized in statement of financial position, for overfunded defined benefit pension and other postretirement plans.

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- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

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Amount of liability, recognized in statement of financial position, for defined benefit pension and other postretirement plans, classified as noncurrent.

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- Definition

For a classified balance sheet, the amount recognized in balance sheet as other liabilities and accrued expenses associated with an underfunded defined benefit plan.

+ References

No definition available.

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