deposit

1 of 2

verb

de·​pos·​it di-ˈpä-zət How to pronounce deposit (audio)
deposited di-ˈpä-zə-təd How to pronounce deposit (audio)
-ˈpäz-təd
; depositing di-ˈpä-zə-tiŋ How to pronounce deposit (audio)
-ˈpäz-tiŋ

transitive verb

1
: to place especially for safekeeping or as a pledge
depositing her tools in the trunk of the car
especially, economics : to put in a bank
having your paycheck automatically deposited into your bank account
2
a
: to lay down : place
deposited himself in the chair next to me
b
: to let fall (something, such as sediment)
layers of mud that had been deposited by the flood

intransitive verb

: to become deposited
depositor
di-ˈpä-zə-tər How to pronounce deposit (audio)
-ˈpäz-tər
noun

deposit

2 of 2

noun

1
: the state of being deposited
2
: something placed for safekeeping: such as
a
: money deposited in a bank
making a deposit or a withdrawal
a deposit of $3,000
b
: money given as a pledge or down payment
put down a deposit on a new house
3
: a place of deposit : depository
4
: an act of laying or putting something or someone down : an act of depositing
the deposit of boulders by ancient glaciers
5
a
: something laid down
especially : matter deposited by a natural process
sandy deposits at the river's mouth
fatty deposits in the arteries
b
geology : a natural accumulation (as of iron ore, coal, or gas)

Examples of deposit in a Sentence

Verb Your paycheck will be automatically deposited into your account. I deposited over $3,000 this afternoon. Please deposit your things in your room and return to the hotel lobby. The taxi deposited us at the train station. Noun Our records show that she made a large deposit to her account earlier in the month. If you return that empty soda can, you'll get back the five-cent deposit you paid when you bought the soda. The rental car company requires a deposit for drivers under the age of 25. a deposit of mud left by the flood He had surgery to remove calcium deposits from his knee. the buildup of fat deposits in the arteries Their company has discovered new oil deposits below the ocean floor.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Verb
Once that is complete, make sure to deposit at least $5 into your account. Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2024 Divers then had another employee instruct some customers to deposit funds into these accounts. Caelyn Pender, The Mercury News, 2 Nov. 2024
Noun
The team is currently working on creating an improved coating that can reduce FOG deposits in sewers by enhancing both its self-healing capabilities and mechanical strength. Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 13 Nov. 2024 The encampment residents who accepted offers for help can continue to draw from that pot until June 2026 for needs ranging from apartment deposits to job preparation, and the National Alliance on Mental Illness is helping oversee the latter effort. Blake Nelson, The Mercury News, 12 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for deposit 

Word History

Etymology

Verb and Noun

Latin depositus, past participle of deponere — see depose

First Known Use

Verb

1624, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun

1621, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of deposit was in 1621

Dictionary Entries Near deposit

Cite this Entry

“Deposit.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deposit. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

deposit

1 of 2 verb
de·​pos·​it di-ˈpäz-ət How to pronounce deposit (audio)
1
: to place for safekeeping
especially : to put money in a bank
2
: to give as a pledge that a purchase will be made or a service used
deposit $10 on a new bicycle
3
: to lay down : place, put
deposit a parcel on a table
4
: to let fall or sink
silt deposited by a flood
depositor
-ˈpäz-ət-ər How to pronounce deposit (audio)
-ˈpäz-tər
noun

deposit

2 of 2 noun
1
: the state of being deposited
money on deposit
2
a
: something placed for safekeeping
especially : money deposited in a bank
b
: money given as a pledge or down payment
3
: an act of depositing
4
: something laid or thrown down
a deposit of silt left by the flood
5
: an accumulation of mineral matter (as ore, oil, or gas) in nature

Medical Definition

deposit

1 of 2 transitive verb
de·​pos·​it di-ˈpäz-ət How to pronounce deposit (audio)
: to lay down or foster the accumulation of as a deposit
crystals are deposited in the articular cartilage, the synovium, and the capsuleMedical Radiography & Photography

deposit

2 of 2 noun
: matter laid down or accumulated especially in a living organism by a normal or abnormal process
removal of calcium deposits in his knees by arthroscopic surgery

Legal Definition

deposit

1 of 2 transitive verb
de·​pos·​it di-ˈpä-zət How to pronounce deposit (audio)
1
: to place for safekeeping or as security
may deposit the property with the court
especially : to put in a bank account
2
in the civil law of Louisiana : to place (movable property) under a deposit
the depository can not make use of the thing depositedLouisiana Civil Code
depositor noun

deposit

2 of 2 noun
1
: the state of being deposited (as in an account)
holding the property on deposit
compare escrow, trust
2
: something placed for safekeeping: as
a
: money deposited in a bank especially to one's credit
demand deposit
: a bank deposit that can be withdrawn without prior notice
general deposit
: a deposit of money in a bank that is to the credit of the depositor thereby giving the depositor the right to money and creating a debtor-creditor relationship
special deposit
: a deposit that is made for a specific purpose, that is to be returned to the depositor, and that creates a bailment or trust
time deposit
: a bank deposit that can be withdrawn only after a set period of time or with prior notice
b
: something given as security see also security deposit

Note: A deposit may be applied to a purchase price or may be considered partial payment.

3
in the civil law of Louisiana
a
: the gratuitous transfer of possession of movable property to another for a limited time or specified purpose such that the depositary is liable to some extent for loss or damage to the property see also sequestration compare bailment, hiring, loan for consumption and loan for use at loan

Note: Like the common-law bailment, the civil law deposit requires either actual or constructive delivery.

necessary deposit
: a deposit compelled by a sudden emergency

Note: The Louisiana Civil Code deems the deposit of travelers' belongings with an innkeeper a necessary deposit.

voluntary deposit
: a deposit that is made by the mutual consent of the depositor and depositary

Note: The consent required may be express or implied, and because of the requirements of consent, only persons with the capacity to contract can make a voluntary deposit.

b
: the movable property that is the object of a deposit
the depositary is bound to use the same diligence in preserving the deposit that he uses in preserving his own propertyLouisiana Civil Code
4
: an act of depositing
upon the deposit of the money in the escrow account
5
: depository
night deposit

More from Merriam-Webster on deposit

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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