accountant

1 of 2

noun

ac·​coun·​tant ə-ˈkau̇n-tᵊnt 

1

: one that gives an account or is accountable

2

: one who is skilled in the practice of accounting or who is in charge of public or private accounts

accountantship

ə-ˈkau̇n-tᵊn(t)-ˌship 

noun

accountant

2 of 2

adjective

obsolete

: subject to give account or liable to be called to account : accountable, answerable

I stand accountant for as great a sin …

—William Shakespeare

Examples of accountant in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

GoCardless hires graduates from any discipline but still encourages them to qualify as accountants and pays for the exams. — Sam Birchall, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2026

How candidates react to these ideas could tell voters a lot, said James Farrell, an East Haven accountant and assembly member. — Keith M. Phaneuf, Hartford Courant, 22 Oct. 2026

The lawsuit seeks to stop attorney Darren Indyke and accountant Richard Kahn from accepting any payments from Epstein’s estate, estimated at more than $100 million. — Susan Montoya Bryan, Los Angeles Times, 21 Oct. 2026

The complaint names Epstein's former attorney, Darren Indyke, and his former accountant, Richard Kahn, as defendants. — ABC News, 21 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English accomptaunt, accountant "official in charge of accounts," borrowed from Anglo-French acomptant, noun derivative of accountaunt, present participle of acunter, acompter "to account entry 2"

Adjective

Middle English accomptaunt, borrowed from Anglo-French accountaunt, from present participle of acunter, acompter "to account entry 2"

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing accountant

• certified public accountant
• chartered accountant
• cost accountant
• turf accountant

Kids Definition

accountant

noun

ac·​coun·​tant

ə-ˈkau̇nt-ᵊnt

: a person professionally trained in accounting