accountant

1 of 2

noun

ac·​coun·​tant ə-ˈkau̇n-tᵊnt 

1

: one that gives an account or is accountable

2

: one who is skilled in the practice of accounting or who is in charge of public or private accounts

accountantship

ə-ˈkau̇n-tᵊn(t)-ˌship 

noun

accountant

2 of 2

adjective

obsolete

: accountable, answerable

I stand accountant for as great a sin

—William Shakespeare

Examples of accountant in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Bernthal is currently focused on The Accountant 2, a sequel to 2016’s thriller about a math savant (played by Ben Affleck) who, on the side, works as a freelance accountant for dangerous criminal organizations. —Kirsten Chuba, The Hollywood Reporter, 8 Mar. 2025

Shirazi’s father, a bookkeeper and an accountant, struggled to get a full-time job. —E. Tammy Kim, The New Yorker, 4 Mar. 2025

Naturally, most will hire a certified public accountant (CPA) for guidance on minimizing their tax burden. —Patrick Lonergan, Forbes, 3 Mar. 2025

Your Kansas tax dollars pay for salaries of state employees, from university presidents and judges to psychiatric nurses and accountants. —Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 24 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English accomptaunt, accountant "official in charge of accounts," borrowed from Anglo-French acomptant, noun derivative of accountaunt, present participle of acunter, acompter "to account entry 2"

Adjective

Middle English accomptaunt, borrowed from Anglo-French accountaunt, from present participle of acunter, acompter "to account entry 2"

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing accountant

• certified public accountant
• chartered accountant
• cost accountant
• turf accountant

Kids Definition

accountant

noun

ac·​coun·​tant

ə-ˈkau̇nt-ᵊnt

: a person professionally trained in accounting