auditor

American  

[aw-di-ter] / ˈɔ dɪ tər /

noun

1. a person appointed and authorized to examine accounts and accounting records, compare the charges with the vouchers, verify balance sheet and income items, and state the result.

2. a university student registered for a course without credit and without obligation to do work assigned to the class.

3. a hearer; listener.

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auditor British  

/ ˈɔːdɪtə /

noun

1. a person qualified to audit accounts

2. a person who hears or listens

3. a registered student who attends a class that is not an official part of his course of study, without actively participating it

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Other Word Forms

• auditorial
  adjective
• auditorship
  noun
• subauditor
  noun
• superauditor
  noun

Etymology

Origin of auditor

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English auditour, from Anglo-French, from Latin audītor “hearer,” from audī(re) “to hear” + -tor -tor

Explanation

An auditor is someone who inspects accounting records. Don’t cheat on your taxes, or an auditor might come and check your figures. An auditor is also an attentive listener. That kind is usually more fun. The word auditor is Latin for “hearer.” This word still applies to someone who listens closely, but it also refers to a kind of accountant who checks the financial records of other people, usually to make sure nothing illegal is going on. If the Internal Revenue Service demands an audit, an auditor will go over your financial records with a fine-toothed comb. This process used to be done verbally, so both kinds of auditors need good hearing.

Example Sentences

The new agents Anthropic is rolling out Tuesday include a corporate earnings reviewer, a financial statement auditor, and a screener for documents tied to customer due diligence processes.

From Barron's • May 5, 2026

But Kenneth Mejia, who was 32 when he was elected controller in 2022, has used social media to highlight his role as auditor of the city’s finances, attracting an audience interested in transparent government spending.

From Los Angeles Times • May 1, 2026

Unlike the state auditor, the controller has political independence and doesn’t answer to the state legislature.

From Los Angeles Times • May 1, 2026

Three years ago, the SEC fined a Denver-based auditor over valuation failures in private-fund audits.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 20, 2026

The writer is freed from the obligation of finding an auditor in public.

From "Hunger of Memory" by Richard Rodriguez

Related Words

• accountant
• actuary
• bookkeeper