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

People demanded commissioners hear the countless accountants of what Chicagoans have endured and witnessed during the immigration enforcement. —Jermont Terry, CBS News, 9 Jan. 2026

Tom Hiddleston plays the accountant whose story unfurls in epic and intimate ways, though the movie is less about Chuck and more about all of us. —Brian Truitt, USA Today, 9 Jan. 2026

The accountant was supposed to show up to closing with the money. —Kimberly Wilson, Essence, 7 Jan. 2026

At a family party in 2020, Denny Ku, 34, an accountant from Houston, TX, watched in disbelief as his Pembroke Welsh Corgi, Lilo, batted a balloon into a basket, and made it. —Jordan Greene, PEOPLE, 6 Jan. 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