Account Meaning

UK /əˈkaʊnt/
US /əˈkaʊnt/
Word Definition
account meaning

Account Definition & Usage

noun

A record or statement of financial transactions or balances, typically involving a specific person, organization, or entity.

Examples

  • "I need to check my bank account balance before making any large purchases."
  • "She opened an account at the local credit union for easier transactions."
  • "The accountant reviewed the company’s financial accounts to ensure accuracy."
  • "Please provide your account number to complete the transaction."
  • "After a long meeting, we concluded that the account was overdrawn by $200."
noun

A detailed description or report of events, actions, or situations.

Examples

  • "The police took a detailed account of what happened during the robbery."
  • "Her account of the trip was so vivid that it felt like we had been there."
  • "He gave a thorough account of the incident to the investigators."
  • "The teacher asked each student to give an account of the historical event they studied."
  • "In his account of the war, the author described the harrowing experiences of soldiers."
verb

To provide a detailed explanation or justification for something.

Examples

  • "The manager asked me to account for the missing supplies."
  • "Can you account for the delay in submitting the report?"
  • "He was asked to account for his whereabouts on the day of the accident."
  • "The company had to account for every dollar spent in the budget review."
  • "I can't account for the sudden change in plans."

Cultural Context

The word 'account' has evolved from its roots in Latin, where it originally meant 'to count' or 'to calculate'. Over time, it expanded to include the modern senses of a record of transactions and a detailed report. The word is heavily used in both everyday business and in storytelling. Its use in finance and banking makes it an essential term in the modern world.

The Mysterious Account

Story

The Mysterious Account

In the small town of Greendale, Ellie was a seasoned journalist with a knack for uncovering hidden truths. She had just received an anonymous tip that a local charity was involved in a financial scandal. Her task was simple: find the account records and write the story. But as she delved deeper into the charity’s accounts, she discovered something unexpected — a mysterious entry that seemed to explain everything, but also nothing at all. The charity’s accountant, a quiet man named Mr. Parker, was too elusive for her liking, and the more she probed, the more she realized the story was not just about money, but about power and betrayal. As Ellie followed the trail, her investigation led her to an unexpected source — the charity’s own account manager, Janet, who had been too afraid to speak up before. Janet gave Ellie the most detailed account of the events leading to the charity’s downfall, and her report became the centerpiece of Ellie’s article. The story she wrote wasn’t just about numbers; it was about accountability and the people behind the numbers. Her article sparked a larger conversation about financial transparency in non-profits, and how one account, one story, could change everything. But Ellie wasn’t done. She still had to account for how the charity’s finances were manipulated over the years. The deeper she went, the more she realized how much was at stake. The account was just the beginning — what mattered was understanding the story behind it, and how it affected the lives of so many.

The Mysterious Account