auditor

noun

au·​di·​tor ˈȯ-də-tər How to pronounce auditor (audio)
1
: a person authorized to examine and verify accounts
2
: one who hears or listens
especially : one who is a member of an audience
3
: a person who audits a course of study
4
: a person who hears something (such as a court case) in the capacity of judge

Did you know?

The auditing of a company's financial records by independent examiners on a regular basis is necessary to prevent "cooking the books", and thus to keep the company honest. We don't normally think of auditors as listening, since looking at and adding up numbers is their basic line of work, but auditors do have to listen to people's explanations, and perhaps that's the historical link. Hearing is more obviously part of another meaning of audit, the kind that college students do when they sit in on a class without taking exams or receiving an official grade.

Examples of auditor in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The rollback and double Homestead exemption are expected to save Butler County property owners over $20 million next year, according to the commissioners' and county auditor's estimates. Victoria Moorwood, Cincinnati Enquirer, 26 Sep. 2025 Since the last audit, the agency has increased monitoring efforts, including hiring an internal auditor. Vivian Jones, Nashville Tennessean, 26 Sep. 2025 But ultimately the auditor found that the district was not prepared for the scope of coordination needed between the various agencies involved. Miami Herald, 24 Sep. 2025 The suit further alleges that LAFS executives lied to Department of Education auditors by denying the existence of the incentive compensation system and failing to disclose the link to Ivar Music Group. Gene Maddaus, Variety, 23 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for auditor

Word History

Etymology

Middle English auditour "hearer, listener, official who examines and verifies accounts," borrowed from Anglo-French auditur, auditour, borrowed from Medieval Latin audītor "hearer, hearer of pleas (in court or Parliament), official who examines accounts," going back to Latin, "hearer, listener, disciple," from audīre "to hear" + -tor, agent suffix — more at audible entry 1

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of auditor was in the 14th century

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Cite this Entry

“Auditor.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/auditor. Accessed 1 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

auditor

noun
au·​di·​tor ˈȯd-ət-ər How to pronounce auditor (audio)
1
: a person who listens to or hears something or someone
especially : a member of an audience
2
: a person who audits accounts

Legal Definition

auditor

noun
au·​di·​tor ˈȯ-də-tər How to pronounce auditor (audio)
1
: a person qualified and authorized to examine and verify financial records
2
: a referee appointed by a court in a civil action
especially : one designated to prepare an account for the court see also master

More from Merriam-Webster on auditor

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