bean counter
noun
usually disparaging
: a person involved in corporate or government financial decisions and especially one reluctant to spend money
Examples of bean counter in a Sentence
He blames corporate bean counters for causing thousands of workers to lose their jobs.
Recent Examples on the Web
The bean counters’ dream scenario of a seven-game series versus the Cavs—the Pistons would have home court versus the Knicks—and an NBA Finals of at least six games would drive gross revenue near $180 million.
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Kurt Badenhausen, Sportico.com, 14 May 2026
More often than not, the discrepancies between Fennell's Wuthering Heights and its source material pander to the female gaze rather than to historical bean counters who are obsessed with sticking to the outdated script.
—Madeline Hirsch, InStyle, 17 Feb. 2026
Walt Whitman was a proud government bean counter during the last days of the Civil War and into the following decade, working variously for the Army Paymaster’s Office and the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
—Literary Hub, 14 Jan. 2026
Perhaps government bean counters haven’t sharpened their pencils, or maybe there are outstanding bills still to be invoiced.
—Charles Selle, Chicago Tribune, 7 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for bean counter
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Kurt Badenhausen, Sportico.com, 14 May 2026
More often than not, the discrepancies between Fennell's Wuthering Heights and its source material pander to the female gaze rather than to historical bean counters who are obsessed with sticking to the outdated script.
—Madeline Hirsch, InStyle, 17 Feb. 2026
Walt Whitman was a proud government bean counter during the last days of the Civil War and into the following decade, working variously for the Army Paymaster’s Office and the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
—Literary Hub, 14 Jan. 2026
Perhaps government bean counters haven’t sharpened their pencils, or maybe there are outstanding bills still to be invoiced.
—Charles Selle, Chicago Tribune, 7 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for bean counter
Cite this Entry
“Bean counter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bean%20counter. Accessed 16 May. 2026.
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