account

1 of 2

noun

ac·​count ə-ˈkau̇nt How to pronounce account (audio)
1
a
: a record of debit (see debit entry 2 sense 1a) and credit (see credit entry 1 sense 2d) entries to cover transactions involving a particular item or a particular person or concern
b
: a statement of transactions during a fiscal period and the resulting balance
c
archaic : reckoning, computation
2
a
: a statement explaining one's conduct
She was asked to give an account of her actions.
b
: a statement or exposition of reasons, causes, or motives
no satisfactory account of these phenomena
c
: a reason for an action : basis
On that account I must refuse.
3
a(1)
: a formal business arrangement providing for regular dealings or services (such as banking, advertising, or store credit) and involving the establishment and maintenance of an account
a checking account
also : client, customer
They are one of our most important accounts.
(2)
: money deposited in a bank account and subject to withdrawal by the depositor
b
: an arrangement in which a person uses the Internet or email services of a particular company
4
a
: value, importance
It's of no account to me.
b
: esteem
stood high in their account
5
: advantage
turned her wit to good account
6
a
: careful thought : consideration
factoring all of these issues into account
see also take account of
b
: a usually mental record : track
Keep account of all you do.
7
: a description of facts, conditions, or events : report, narrative
the newspaper account of the fire
By all accounts they're well-off.
also : performance
a straightforward account of the sonata

account

2 of 2

verb

accounted; accounting; accounts

intransitive verb

1
: to furnish a justifying analysis or explanation
used with for
couldn't account for the loss
2
a
: to be the sole or primary factor
used with for
The left fielder accounted for all three putouts.
b
: to bring about the capture, death, or destruction of something
used with for
Enemy fighters accounted for two of the bombers.

transitive verb

1
: to think of as : consider
accounts himself lucky
2
: to probe into : analyze
Phrases
give a good account of oneself
: to perform well especially in a competition or confrontation : to acquit oneself well
Though he has an aristocratic bearing, he could probably give a good account of himself in a street fight.Ishmael Reed
on account
: with the price charged to one's account
purchasing on account
on account of
: for the sake of : because of
The game was cancelled on account of rain.
on no account
: under no circumstances
On no account should the children be left alone at home.
on one's own account
1
: on one's own behalf
I'm doing it on my own account, not for anyone else.
2
: at one's own risk
3
: by oneself : on one's own

Examples of account in a Sentence

Noun the difference between the debit and credit sides of an account We always keep very good accounts. We opened new accounts at a bank last week. I took out my money and closed my account. You can withdraw up to $1,000 a day from your account. Every week, she puts a part of her paycheck into a separate account. setting up a bank account Verb account themselves lucky to be alive
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Of course, once kids get their own devices or social media accounts, there is a whole new set of considerations and concerns to take into account. Zara Hanawalt, Parents, 23 Mar. 2024 The inquiry by the city’s accounting watchdog was on Evergrande’s 2020 annual accounts and 2021 interim report. Bloomberg, Fortune Asia, 22 Mar. 2024 His main campaign account raised $21 million in February, according to its latest filing with the FEC, and ended the month with $71 million on hand. CBS News, 22 Mar. 2024 That’s what Donald, who announced his retirement last week, said in a 55-second video clip that was posted to his social media account Thursday. Gary Klein, Los Angeles Times, 22 Mar. 2024 Their accounts were bolstered by people who witnessed some of Gobin’s interactions with the women, as well as text messages and contemporaneous accounts to friends and family. Justin Jouvenal, Washington Post, 22 Mar. 2024 The account includes Samra's own videos and reposted videos of antiwar demonstrations. Detroit Free Press, 22 Mar. 2024 Leaders took several land use studies into account in coming to the decision to support the development. Eric Adler, Kansas City Star, 22 Mar. 2024 Payments were wired from Ohtani’s account to an associate of Bowyer’s, per sources and bank data reviewed by the outlet. Tomás Mier, Rolling Stone, 22 Mar. 2024
Verb
According to Census Data, in 2021 Black residents, who make up 26% of the population in Kansas City, only accounted for 7.2% of home-owning households. J.m. Banks, Kansas City Star, 24 Mar. 2024 India is the world’s second largest sugar producer, and Maharashtra accounts for about a third of that production. Qadri Inzamam Saumya Khandelwal, New York Times, 24 Mar. 2024 Military families account for almost half of the ACP’s subscriber base, according to the White House and an outside survey backed by Comcast. Brian Fung, CNN, 23 Mar. 2024 Carbs accounted for most of the extra calories.2 The hormone progesterone, which begins to rise after ovulation, can increase appetite.2 Progesterone helps prepare the body to implant and nourish a fertilized egg. News & Views, Health, 23 Mar. 2024 Thailand’s vital tourism industry accounts for 12% of the country’s gross domestic product. Patpicha Tanakasempipat, Fortune, 23 Mar. 2024 Reality Check is a Sacramento Bee series holding those in power to account and shining a light on their decisions. David Lightman, Sacramento Bee, 23 Mar. 2024 Reality Check is a Herald series holding those in power to account and shining a light on their decisions. Sarah Blaskey, Miami Herald, 22 Mar. 2024 Many economists argue the official statistics in the consumer price index are delayed and aren’t yet accounting for real-time measures that show rents either stabilizing or falling nationwide. Rachel Siegel, Washington Post, 12 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'account.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English acounte, accompt, borrowed from Anglo-French acunte, acounte, noun derivative of acunter "to account entry 2"

Verb

Middle English accounten, acounten, accompten "to count, compute, evaluate, give an account of," borrowed from Anglo-French acunter, acompter, from a-, prefix forming transitive verbs (going back to Latin ad- ad-) + cunter, compter "to count entry 1"

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1c

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

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

Dictionary Entries Near account

Cite this Entry

“Account.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/account. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

account

1 of 2 noun
ac·​count ə-ˈkau̇nt How to pronounce account (audio)
1
: a record of money paid out and money received
2
: a statement listing purchases and credits : bill
3
a
: value entry 1 sense 3
a man of little account
b
: regard entry 1 sense 2a
held in high account
4
: profit entry 1 sense 1, advantage
labored to no account
5
a
: a statement of reasons, causes, or motives
gave an account of her actions
b
: a statement of facts
accounts of the game
c
: a reason for an action
on that account I must refuse
6
a
: a sum of money deposited in a bank
b
: an arrangement in which a person uses the Internet or e-mail services of a particular company

account

2 of 2 verb
1
: to think of as
accounts herself lucky
2
: to give an explanation
have to account for the money I spent
3
: to be the cause
illness accounts for so many absences
Etymology

Noun

Middle English acount, accompt "the act or result of counting," from early French acunte (same meaning), from acunter (verb) "to add, count," from a- "to" and cunter "to count," from Latin computare "to count, compute" — related to compute, count entry 1

Legal Definition

account

1 of 2 noun
ac·​count
1
a
: a record of debit and credit entries to cover transactions involving a particular item (as cash or notes receivable) or a particular person or concern
b
: a statement of transactions during a fiscal period showing the resulting balance
sometimes used in the pl.
trustees filed annual accounts as required by statuteW. M. McGovern, Jr. et al.
2
: a periodically rendered reckoning (as one listing charged purchases and credits)
3
: a sum of money or its equivalent deposited in the common cash of a bank and subject to withdrawal at the option of the depositor
4
: a right under Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code to payment for goods or services which is not contained in an instrument or chattel paper and that may or may not have been earned by performance

account

2 of 2 intransitive verb
: to give a financial account
a duty to account

More from Merriam-Webster on account

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