on the books
phrase
: on the records
outdated laws that are still on the books
Examples of on the books in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
As with other academy graduates that have been sold by Chelsea, any fee will count as straight profit on the books, which is obviously a plus.
—
Patrick Boyland,
New York Times,
4 July 2026
The country’s bitter local rivals, South Korea, can call upon players who are on the books at some of the world’s biggest clubs, including Paris Saint-Germain (Lee Kang-in) and Bayern Munich (Kim Min-jae), an option Japan currently doesn’t have.
—
Simon Chadwick,
Forbes.com,
2 July 2026
That is a blue state that does not have a law on the books protecting women’s sports.
—
Jackson Thompson Outkick,
FOXNews.com,
1 July 2026
Right now, 27 states have bans on transgender athlete participation on the books.
—
Sara Tenenbaum,
CBS News,
1 July 2026
Washington, Oregon, California, Nevada, Colorado, Minnesota and Maryland all have workplace heat protections on the books, according to the Natural Resources Defense Council.
—
Hanna Wickes,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
1 July 2026
Transgender student's Supreme Court journey Alabama Alabama has two laws on the books.
—
Drew Pittock,
USA Today,
30 June 2026
The National Sawdust show has been on the books for quite some time, and Dylan surely knew that Lage wasn’t a long-term band member.
—
Andy Greene,
Rolling Stone,
29 June 2026
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.
Patrick Boyland,
New York Times,
4 July 2026
The country’s bitter local rivals, South Korea, can call upon players who are on the books at some of the world’s biggest clubs, including Paris Saint-Germain (Lee Kang-in) and Bayern Munich (Kim Min-jae), an option Japan currently doesn’t have.
—
Simon Chadwick,
Forbes.com,
2 July 2026
That is a blue state that does not have a law on the books protecting women’s sports.
—
Jackson Thompson Outkick,
FOXNews.com,
1 July 2026
Right now, 27 states have bans on transgender athlete participation on the books.
—
Sara Tenenbaum,
CBS News,
1 July 2026
Washington, Oregon, California, Nevada, Colorado, Minnesota and Maryland all have workplace heat protections on the books, according to the Natural Resources Defense Council.
—
Hanna Wickes,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
1 July 2026
Transgender student's Supreme Court journey Alabama Alabama has two laws on the books.
—
Drew Pittock,
USA Today,
30 June 2026
The National Sawdust show has been on the books for quite some time, and Dylan surely knew that Lage wasn’t a long-term band member.
—
Andy Greene,
Rolling Stone,
29 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“On the books.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/on%20the%20books. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
