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

The annual assembly also saw Grant Thornton Sweden AB reelected as auditor, with Camilla Nilsson continuing as responsible auditor. —Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 8 May 2026

However, Kendall, current county treasurer, Cayer, who is running for collector, Brouk, a candidate for presiding commissioner, and Robinson, the current county auditor, had already withdrawn their names from the election prior to that vote. —Jenna Ebbers, Kansas City Star, 8 May 2026

Through a third-party Sacramento consultant, the auditor’s office found that Oakland’s revenue division did not collect much of the revenue that was due to the city between July 2021 and June 2024, likely denying the city millions of dollars in revenue. —Shomik Mukherjee, Mercury News, 7 May 2026

Revenue must be strictly earmarked for the city auditor and infrastructure, rather than disappearing into the general fund’s administrative bloat. —David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 May 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