Account

/əˈkaʊnt/

nounBeginnerVery CommonBusiness

Definitions

3 meanings
1

A record of debits and credits; a statement of financial transactions.

/əˈkaʊnt/

nounneutralBeginner
Business

A record of financial transactions.

He opened a new bank account.

💡 Simply: A list of your money coming in and going out.

More Examples

2

The accountant prepared the company's accounts.

How It's Used

Finance

"The company's accounts showed a significant profit."

Banking

"I need to check my bank account balance."

2

A description or explanation of an event or situation.

/əˈkaʊnt/

nounneutralIntermediate
Literature

A narrative or explanation.

Give me your account of what happened.

💡 Simply: A story or explanation of something that happened.

More Examples

2

Her account of the trip was fascinating.

How It's Used

History

"Historians offer different accounts of the event."

Law

"He gave his account of the incident to the police."

Tip:Think of 'accounting' for something – explaining it.
3

To explain or justify something.

/əˈkaʊnt/

verbneutralIntermediate
General

To consider or regard something.

She couldn't account for her absence.

💡 Simply: To explain something or give a reason for it.

More Examples

2

How do you account for the discrepancy?

How It's Used

General

"We must account for all the expenses."

Tip:Think of 'accounting' for something – explaining where it is.

Idioms & expressions

on account of

Because of; due to.

"The game was cancelled on account of the rain."

From Old French 'acounter', meaning 'to recount, relate'. Ultimately derived from Latin 'computare' (to compute).

The word's usage has evolved from its original meaning of 'reckoning' or 'calculation' to encompass financial records and narrative explanations.

Memory tip

Think of 'counting' your money – accounts keep track of financial transactions.

acountaccontaaccount

Usage

60%Spoken
40%Written