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 timing wasn’t intentionally sentimental, as the voting results came in to the hall from accountants on the same day the world learned of his death. —Chris Willman, Variety, 4 Apr. 2024

Trying to pin down apps’ ownership structures and financial influences would require regulators to become forensic accountants. —Aynne Kokas, Foreign Affairs, 3 Apr. 2024

After graduating from college and landing a job as an accountant, he was laid off. —Jacqueline Weiss, Peoplemag, 25 Mar. 2024

As for the finance fam, Vincent Moyo is promoted to director of commercial finance, four years in; Grace Styles approaches her three-year mark with a promotion to management accountant; Savannah Puleston bumps up to operations and events coordinator, nearly two years after joining Merlin. —Marc Schneider, Billboard, 15 Mar. 2024

Starting the Day The day of a tax accountant begins with a routine that sets the stage for productivity. —Bryce Welker, Miami Herald, 7 Mar. 2024

The bank account, which is now being examined by state and private accountants, is the latest trouble with the state's books and comes after South Carolina's top accountant resigned last year. —CBS News, 27 Mar. 2024

Jamie Pollard had worked for two years as a certified public accountant before getting into college athletics administration in 1989. —Tim Casey, Forbes, 27 Mar. 2024

The Enjoyable and the Stressful Tax accountants find joy in the diversity of their clients and the satisfaction of completing complex projects. —Bryce Welker, Miami Herald, 7 Mar. 2024

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

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

Kids Definition

accountant

noun

ac·​coun·​tant

ə-ˈkau̇nt-ᵊnt

: a person professionally trained in accounting