auditor

noun

au·​di·​tor ˈȯ-də-tər 

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

In a March 24 capitol hearing, state Senator Tom Umberg, D-Orange County, led the Democratic supermajority in directing the state auditor to investigate the Orange County Board of Education. —Will Swaim, Oc Register, 12 Apr. 2026

In contrast, two other new county offices that would be created by the charter package — an independent budget analyst and program auditor — have extensive descriptions of their responsibilities and powers, according to Lawson-Remer’s legislation for the charter package released on Wednesday. —Lucas Robinson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Apr. 2026

Herbst, an accountant and former city auditor, said City Hall should be paid for with property tax dollars through a general obligation bond. —Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 9 Apr. 2026

The authority will be required to provide annual reports to various legislative groups and engage a third-party independent auditor to audit its books annually. —Sam McDowell, Kansas City Star, 9 Apr. 2026

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

Kids Definition

auditor

noun

au·​di·​tor ˈȯd-ət-ər 

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 

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