account payable

American  

noun

PLURAL

accounts payable

1. a liability to a creditor, carried on open account, usually for purchases of goods and services.

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account payable British  

noun

1. accounting a current liability account showing amounts payable by a firm to suppliers for purchases of materials, stocks, or services on credit

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Etymology

Origin of account payable

First recorded in 1935–40

Example Sentences

Lesya Tenderyak, who works in accounts payable, paused to explain why she had been sorting and packing seven days a week.

From New York Times

The money a buyer owes to the middleman, such as Greensill Capital or a bank, shows up as a “trade payable” or “accounts payable” — that is, money owed to a supplier — rather than as debt.

From New York Times

Then Sandy lost the job she’d had for 18 years, doing accounts payable for a suddenly shuttered office.

From Los Angeles Times

The team’s accounts payable person was going on paternity leave.

From Washington Post

A council spokesman said the CCJs recorded by the Registry Trust were "historic", adding: "Our accounts payable team have no outstanding cases."

From BBC