auditor

noun

au·​di·​tor ˈȯ-də-tər How to pronounce auditor (audio)
1
: a person authorized to examine and verify accounts
2
: one who hears or listens
especially : one who is a member of an audience
3
: a person who audits a course of study
4
: a person who hears something (such as a court case) in the capacity of judge

Did you know?

The auditing of a company's financial records by independent examiners on a regular basis is necessary to prevent "cooking the books", and thus to keep the company honest. We don't normally think of auditors as listening, since looking at and adding up numbers is their basic line of work, but auditors do have to listen to people's explanations, and perhaps that's the historical link. Hearing is more obviously part of another meaning of audit, the kind that college students do when they sit in on a class without taking exams or receiving an official grade.

Examples of auditor in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Hundreds of ballots damaged in Washington, damage limited in Portland Clark County auditor Greg Kimsey said that a large number of ballots had been destroyed in the Vancouver fire at a joint press conference. James Powel, USA TODAY, 29 Oct. 2024 The auditor’s office previously said that one-time costs to implement all of the proposals in Measure G — which would include expanding the board — would be about $8 million. Rebecca Ellis, Los Angeles Times, 28 Oct. 2024 What auditors would find, however, is that the Waller-Bridge deal was definitely among the worst given the size of the investment and $0 value. Tony Maglio, IndieWire, 10 Oct. 2024 The three-term Democratic senator from Montana has scored more than 50% of the vote only once in his three runs for the U.S. Senate, attracting 50.3% of the vote in 2018 against state auditor and future U.S. Rep. Matt Rosendale. Lee Banville, The Conversation, 8 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for auditor 

Word History

Etymology

Middle English auditour "hearer, listener, official who examines and verifies accounts," borrowed from Anglo-French auditur, auditour, borrowed from Medieval Latin audītor "hearer, hearer of pleas (in court or Parliament), official who examines accounts," going back to Latin, "hearer, listener, disciple," from audīre "to hear" + -tor, agent suffix — more at audible entry 1

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of auditor was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near auditor

Cite this Entry

“Auditor.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/auditor. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

auditor

noun
au·​di·​tor ˈȯd-ət-ər How to pronounce auditor (audio)
1
: a person who listens to or hears something or someone
especially : a member of an audience
2
: a person who audits accounts

Legal Definition

auditor

noun
au·​di·​tor ˈȯ-də-tər How to pronounce auditor (audio)
1
: a person qualified and authorized to examine and verify financial records
2
: a referee appointed by a court in a civil action
especially : one designated to prepare an account for the court see also master
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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