ledger

noun

led·​ger ˈle-jər 

plural ledgers

1

a

: a book containing accounts to which debits and credits are posted from books of original entry

Psmith, perched gracefully on a stool, entered figures in a ledger.

—P. G. Wodehouse

b

: a digital record that is used similarly to an accounting ledger (as for maintaining a list of transactions)

Williams said he also recovered a ledger spreadsheet on a laptop computer seized from Wright and a "key" to translate the ledger.

—Scott Dolan

specifically : blockchain

NFTs use blockchain, the technology ledger backing cryptocurrencies …, which are databases of linked information to record ownership or transactions of a product.

—Weston Blasi

The original idea behind Provenance was to provide transparency, proof of loan performance, provenance—reliable information about who owned or owns an asset at any given time—lower costs and easier audits for loan buyers and sellers through distributed ledger technology.

—Penny Crosman

2

: a horizontal board used for vertical support (as in scaffolding)

I'd rather see joists resting on a ledger, spiked to the girders or to the house through spacers.

—Jim Locke

Examples of ledger in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Elon Musk’s government-slashing DOGE team has published an online ledger of its cuts. —Melissa Kirsch, New York Times, 22 Feb. 2025

Remember, when Poles took over in 2022, the Bears were pressed against the cap and wound up making a series of moves to clear the books and reset their ledger. —Brad Biggs, Chicago Tribune, 12 Feb. 2025

On the positive side of the ledger is the fact that Binnington has historically thrived on being questioned or doubted, and he’s gotten the job done when the spotlight is at its brightest. —Chris Johnston, The Athletic, 11 Feb. 2025

The bottom line: Addressing climate change requires action on both sides of the carbon ledger: emissions and removal. —Andrew Freedman, Axios, 7 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English lygger, leger large breviary, beam, probably from leyen, leggen to lay

First Known Use

1588, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing ledger

• ledger line

Rhymes for ledger

• dredger
• edger
• hedger

Kids Definition

ledger

noun

led·​ger ˈlej-ər 

: a book in which accounts are kept in final form