accountant

American  

[uh-koun-tnt] / əˈkaʊn tnt /

noun

1. a person whose profession is inspecting and auditing personal or commercial accounts and providing financial advice to the account holders.

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accountant British  

/ əˈkaʊntənt /

noun

1. a person concerned with the maintenance and audit of business accounts and the preparation of consultant reports in tax and finance

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Other Word Forms

• accountantship noun

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:

• actuary vs. accountant

Example Sentences

He thinks he will have to pay employees overtime and add a temporary accountant to his staff of 48 to help sort through thousands of orders.

From The Wall Street Journal

For protection in these circumstances, you’re going to want to have lawyers and accountants involved to thoroughly vet the opportunities and study the contracts.

From MarketWatch

London has stables of lawyers and accountants experienced at disguising sources of wealth and who help clients obtain visas that grease the wheels of business.

From The Wall Street Journal

“It was like a magic show where the illusion is happening in front of us,” said R. Rao, a 45-year-old accountant from the southern city of Udupi who was a victim.

From The Wall Street Journal

Future generations of accountants, lawyers, and economists will be disrupted most.

From Barron's

Related Words

• actuary
• analyst
• auditor
• bookkeeper
• clerk