accountant
Americannoun
noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of accountant
First recorded in 1425–75; account + -ant; replacing late Middle English accomptant, from Middle French, Old French acuntant, present participle of acunter “to account ”
Compare meaning
How does accountant compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Explanation
An accountant is a person whose job involves keeping financial records for a business. To be a great accountant, you've got to be good at math. When a company hires an accountant, it turns over the management of its accounts to that person, who is responsible for keeping track of spending, income, and any other financial information. An accountant is also held accountable for the accuracy of a company's books, and usually has to be officially certified before working in the field. The word comes from account, by way of the Old French aconter, "to count."
Vocabulary lists containing accountant
Tax Day Words
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"Growing Together" and "When I Grow Up"
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Exemptions, Deductions, and Loopholes: Tax Day Vocabulary
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“Sometimes they file an extension because they didn’t start early enough to get organized and gather their 1099s and other forms,” said Jessica Banitt, a Houston-based certified public accountant and certified financial planner.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 8, 2026
"There's nothing like seeing a basketball game at Madison Square Garden," said John Guercio, a 60-something accountant and self-proclaimed lifelong fan of the Knicks.
From Barron's • Jun. 8, 2026
He works at a law firm and is halfway through this three-year Chartered Institute of Management Accountants course to qualify as a chartered accountant.
From BBC • Jun. 6, 2026
Laura Crawford, who is a retired accountant, said she works around the clock most days researching data center proposals and organizing local opposition.
From Salon • Jun. 6, 2026
My father started the school three years before I was born, and he was teacher, accountant, and principal—as well as janitor, handyman, and chief mechanic.
From "Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Changed the World" by Malala Yousafzai
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
