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

Born in Shelbyville, Illinois, in 1944 to an accountant father and a homemaker mother, York moved with his family to Terre Haute, Indiana, at age 8 to live with his grandparents after his father’s death. —Bob Goldsborough, Chicago Tribune, 7 Feb. 2026

Dallas’ large professional and business services sector, which includes white-collar jobs such as accountants and lawyers, also took a hit, along with its education and health sectors. —Trevor Bach, Dallas Morning News, 6 Feb. 2026

Last fall, the condo association hired outside accountants and management, Diaz said. —Catherine Odom february 5, Miami Herald, 5 Feb. 2026

Her mother, Kim, worked as an accountant. —Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 4 Feb. 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