deposit

1 of 2

verb

de·​pos·​it di-ˈpä-zət 

deposited di-ˈpä-zə-təd 

-ˈpäz-təd

; depositing di-ˈpä-zə-tiŋ 

-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 

-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)

Synonyms

Verb

• bank

Noun

• deposition
• dregs
• grounds
• precipitate
• sediment
• settlings

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

Verb

Businesses can deposit cash into secure, networked drop points near their stores. —Joe Arrage, Newsweek, 6 Dec. 2024

Ideally, the institution has all the facts before depositing the check. —Mary Holland, Robb Report, 1 Dec. 2024

Noun

This step takes a lot more money than most people realize and can often require funding of at least 20% of the total budget of a film, including to acquire rights, commission a screenplay, and escrow deposits to attach talent. —Schuyler Moore, Forbes, 6 Dec. 2024

My business generates about $18,000 a month in passive income, based on my calculations from a recent month’s deposits. —Amy Landino, Contributor, CNBC, 5 Dec. 2024

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

Phrases Containing deposit

• certificate of deposit
• demand deposit
• deposit account
• deposit slip
• direct deposit
• make a deposit
• on deposit
• safe-deposit box
• security deposit

Kids Definition

deposit

1 of 2 verb

de·​pos·​it di-ˈpäz-ət 

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 

-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 

deposited -ˈpäz-ət-əd, -ˈpäz-təd  ; depositing -ˈpäz-ət-iŋ, -ˈpäz-tiŋ 

: to lay down or foster the accumulation of as a deposit

crystals are deposited in the articular cartilage, the synovium, and the capsule

—Medical 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 

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 deposited

—Louisiana Civil Code

depositor

di-ˈpä-zə-tər 

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 property

—Louisiana Civil Code

4

: an act of depositing

upon the deposit of the money in the escrow account

5

: depository

night deposit