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  • ledger
    ledger
    noun
    an account book or digital file of final entry, in which business transactions are recorded.
  • Ledger
    Ledger
    noun
    Heath(cliffe) Andrew . 1979–2008, Australian film actor. His films include The Patriot (2000), A Knight's Tale (2001) and Brokeback Mountain (2005)
Synonyms

ledger

American  
[lej-er] / ˈlɛdʒ ɛr /

noun

  1. Bookkeeping. an account book or digital file of final entry, in which business transactions are recorded.

    The Controller must oversee, review, and approve of all posting of financial activity into the General Ledger.

  2. Computers. a decentralized public database of permanent records of financial transactions, distributed over a network and typically having the form of a blockchain, used especially in cryptocurrency systems.

    When users send or receive a payment in bitcoin, network nodes verify the transaction and then record it in a shared public ledger.

  3. Building Trades.

    1. a horizontal board attached to a wall to support the ends of the joists of another structure such as a deck, porch, roof, etc..

      As the cause of the porch’s collapse, the inspector cited a ledger attached with improper screws.

    2. (in scaffolding) a horizontal board or metal tube attached to uprights, either to support the ends of the boards of a platform or for use as a handrail.

      Arrange the ledgers so the platforms slope slightly outwards, carrying rain away from the face of the building.

    3. ribbon.

  4. Also called ledger stone.  a flat slab of stone laid over a grave or tomb.

    I had a Bible verse engraved on his ledger, ending with the words “Rest in peace.”

  5. Angling, Chiefly British. Also leger a lead sinker with a hole in one end through which the line passes, enabling the bait and the sinker to rest on the bottom and allowing the fish to take the bait without detecting the sinker.

    If fishing for bass in particular, the ledger is preferred.


ledger 1 British  
/ ˈlɛdʒə /

noun

  1. accounting the principal book in which the commercial transactions of a company are recorded

  2. a flat horizontal slab of stone

  3. a horizontal scaffold pole fixed to two upright poles for supporting the outer ends of putlogs

  4. angling

    1. a wire trace that allows the weight to rest on the bottom and the bait to float freely

    2. ( as modifier )

      ledger tackle

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

  1. (intr) angling to fish using a ledger

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Ledger 2 British  
/ ˈlɛdʒə /

noun

  1. Heath(cliffe) Andrew . 1979–2008, Australian film actor. His films include The Patriot (2000), A Knight's Tale (2001) and Brokeback Mountain (2005)

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of ledger

First recorded in 1475–85; earlier legger “book,” probably equivalent to legg(en) “to set down, lay” + -er noun suffix; see lay 1, -er 1, ledge

Explanation

A ledger is kind of like a diary, but for money. It's a book for keeping track of expenses, profits, and other financial matters. A ledger is an accounting journal used to keep track of money. Businesses — or their accountants — keep careful ledgers so they know how much money is coming in and going out. If you've ever heard the expression "cook the books" — meaning cheat financially by making things up — the "books" are ledgers. If you like numbers and money, maybe you should become an accountant so you can help people with their ledgers.

Keep Reading on Vocabulary.com

Vocabulary lists containing ledger

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.

On a full cost-benefit ledger, fewer deer crashes may save households more than wolf deregulation could ever save at the meat counter.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 15, 2026

On the other side of the ledger, sales to Chinese customers are a headwind.

From Barron's • May 14, 2026

“The personal journey to continue to discover things about Betye. I can open a ledger and it’s like, ‘Oh, I forgot she designed costumes for the Tuskegee Choir.’

From Los Angeles Times • May 7, 2026

She displayed images of the U.S. indictment, questioning evidence such as photographs of a redacted handwritten ledger showing payments.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 30, 2026

Write the letter names of the three ledger lines below and the three ledger lines above your staff.

From "Understanding Basic Music Theory" by Catherine Schmidt-Jones and Russel Jones

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