account
7 synonyms and 0 antonyms for account, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A written or spoken description of events; a report.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
How to use account
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From Old French aconter, "to reckon, count," ultimately from Latin computare — the same root as "compute" and "count."
Full origin of account →Frequently asked questions
What does “account” mean?
The word “account” means a written or spoken description of events; a report. In plain terms, a record of money or access (bank account, online account) or a report of events.
How do you pronounce “account”?
“Account” is pronounced uh-KOWNT (/əˈkaʊnt/ in IPA).
How do you use “account” in a sentence?
Here is “account” used in a sentence: “She gave a detailed account of what happened at the meeting.”
What part of speech is “account”?
Depending on how it is used, “account” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “account” come from?
The word “account” comes from Latin. From Old French aconter, "to reckon, count," ultimately from Latin computare — the same root as "compute" and "count.".
Is “account” a common word?
“Account” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “account” have?
“Account” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a written or spoken description of events; a report.
What is the difference between an account and a report?
An account is any written or spoken description of events, often personal and narrative, such as someone's account of what they saw. A report is usually more formal, structured, and factual, prepared for a specific purpose or audience. Every report is a kind of account, but an account can be looser and more subjective.
What is a firsthand account?
A firsthand account is a description of events given by someone who witnessed or experienced them directly. It carries the authority of direct observation, unlike a secondhand account, which relays what another person reported. Historians and journalists value firsthand accounts because they come straight from the source, closest to what actually happened.
What is an example of an account?
"She gave a detailed account of the accident to the police" uses the word to mean a spoken description of what happened. A witness statement, a travel diary, a news story, or a survivor's memoir are all accounts, descriptions that tell others what took place.
What are the types of account in this sense?
Accounts are often grouped by source and form: firsthand, from a witness, versus secondhand, relayed from others, and spoken versus written. They range from eyewitness statements and journal entries to formal narratives and news reports. What unites them is that each describes events for the benefit of someone else.