Definition, synonyms and related words
plural of account
"The bank statement listed several accounts, including my checking and savings balances."
In plain English: Accounts are records of money that has come in or gone out.
"I checked my bank accounts to see if I had enough money for the trip."
Usage: Use "accounts" to refer to multiple records of financial transactions or separate narratives describing specific events. Avoid using it when you mean the singular concept of an explanation, which should remain "an account."
Third-person singular simple present indicative form of account
"When I asked him to account for his missing wallet, he refused to answer any questions."
In plain English: To account means to give an explanation for something that happened.
"The detective asked each witness to account for their movements during the night."
Usage: Use accounts when describing how a third-person subject explains or describes something, such as "He accounts for every expense." Do not confuse this verb with the noun meaning financial records.
Derived from Old French compter (to count), this term originally meant a reckoning or tallying of money. It later evolved to signify a narrative report detailing financial transactions or events.