current account

American  

noun

• current accounts
  plural

1. Also called open account. an account of credits, debits, receipts, and expenditures between two individuals or companies, usually providing for settlement at the end of specified accounting periods.

2. (in certain foreign countries) a checking account.

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current account British  

noun

1. Canadian name: chequing account. US name: checking account. an account at a bank or building society against which cheques may be drawn at any time

2. economics that part of the balance of payments composed of the balance of trade and the invisible balance Compare capital account

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• current accounts
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of current account

First recorded in 1840–50

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Compare meaning

How does current-account compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• current account vs. capital account

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

current account

Some of the ones which pay the highest interest are only accessible if you hold a current account with the provider, she says.

From BBC ● Sep. 27, 2026

They expect the current account deficit to narrow from its 2Q peak of 3.3% of GDP, but see weather disruptions and oil prices as key risks.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 22, 2026

Japan runs the biggest current account surplus in the G-7 — which should, in theory, be supportive of the currency.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 3, 2026

Basic bank accounts have many of the same functions as a regular current account, but are designed for those who might otherwise be excluded from the banking system.

From BBC ● Jul. 6, 2026

So if I buy a bar of gold worth £500,1 credit £500 to my current account, and I debit £500 to my list of assets.

From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton

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Related Words

• checking account
• deposit
• savings account

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