checking account

American  

noun

1. a bank deposit against which checks can be drawn by the depositor.

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checking account British  

noun

1. the US name for current account

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Etymology

Origin of checking account

An Americanism dating back to 1920–25

Example Sentences

Second, a Warsh Fed would need to neutralize swings in the government’s checking account at the Fed.

From Barron's • Feb. 20, 2026

Experts suggest that people add 10% of their regular monthly expenses to their budget to cover variable costs, and that they keep that money in their checking account.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 19, 2026

For many Americans, this advice will mean keeping an extra few thousand dollars in a checking account to absorb price increases, said Catherine Valega, a financial planner and founder of Green Bee Advisory.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 19, 2026

Even a billionaire couldn’t get any interest on a checking account during this period, when the Federal Reserve kept rates near zero following the 2008-09 financial crisis.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 11, 2026

When the money arrived in her bank, Jule withdrew it all and opened a new checking account somewhere else.

From "Genuine Fraud" by E. Lockhart

Related Words

• deposit
• savings account