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

Of the Fed’s major liabilities, two mostly are beyond its control: the deposits that the Treasury Department keeps in its checking account at the Fed, and physical cash.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 18, 2026

To make your money work harder, avoid letting this reserve sit in a standard checking account earning 0.01% interest.

From MarketWatch • May 8, 2026

For Jessica Simon, the first signs that hers was in trouble showed up in the checking account she shared with her husband.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 19, 2026

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

From Barron's • Feb. 20, 2026

Eventually she made him open a separate checking account for the lab, and kept him away from their personal money as much as she could.

From "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" by Rebecca Skloot

Related Words

• deposit
• savings account