accountant

1 of 2

noun

ac·​coun·​tant ə-ˈkau̇n-tᵊnt 

1

: one that gives an account or is accountable

2

: one who is skilled in the practice of accounting or who is in charge of public or private accounts

accountantship

ə-ˈkau̇n-tᵊn(t)-ˌship 

noun

accountant

2 of 2

adjective

obsolete

: accountable, answerable

I stand accountant for as great a sin

—William Shakespeare

Examples of accountant in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The accountant trainee assists with accounting tasks at Atascadero State Hospital. —Sacbee.com, 7 Mar. 2026

As a teenager and college student, Chris Blevins watched his father — an accountant turned business entrepreneur — negotiate contracts, do deals with vendors and handle issues with clients and customers. —Mark Curriden, Dallas Morning News, 6 Mar. 2026

Jim Revis, a business representative for IATSE Local 871, which represents production coordinators, accountants and other film crew members, said the slowdown in local production has directly affected workers’ ability to maintain health coverage and steady employment. —Teresa Liu, Daily News, 5 Mar. 2026

Michelle Grau is a certified public accountant specializing in governmental accounting, auditing and finance who is running for Boca Raton City Council Seat A. —Michelle Grau, Sun Sentinel, 3 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English accomptaunt, accountant "official in charge of accounts," borrowed from Anglo-French acomptant, noun derivative of accountaunt, present participle of acunter, acompter "to account entry 2"

Adjective

Middle English accomptaunt, borrowed from Anglo-French accountaunt, from present participle of acunter, acompter "to account entry 2"

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing accountant

• certified public accountant
• chartered accountant
• cost accountant
• turf accountant

Kids Definition

accountant

noun

ac·​coun·​tant

ə-ˈkau̇nt-ᵊnt

: a person professionally trained in accounting