auditor

noun

au·​di·​tor ˈȯ-də-tər How to pronounce auditor (audio)
1
: a person authorized to examine and verify accounts
2
: one who hears or listens
especially : one who is a member of an audience
3
: a person who audits a course of study
4
: a person who hears something (such as a court case) in the capacity of judge

Did you know?

The auditing of a company's financial records by independent examiners on a regular basis is necessary to prevent "cooking the books", and thus to keep the company honest. We don't normally think of auditors as listening, since looking at and adding up numbers is their basic line of work, but auditors do have to listen to people's explanations, and perhaps that's the historical link. Hearing is more obviously part of another meaning of audit, the kind that college students do when they sit in on a class without taking exams or receiving an official grade.

Examples of auditor in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web County auditors who receive address change information from voters who have moved to a different county in the state must now notify the auditor in the new county of the voter's relocation. Victor Hagan, USA TODAY, 8 May 2024 Demonstrators were taking to the streets to demand the resignation of Moïse and accountability on nearly $2 billion in post-quake aid that government auditors said had been embezzled. Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 8 May 2024 See all Example Sentences for auditor 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'auditor.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English auditour "hearer, listener, official who examines and verifies accounts," borrowed from Anglo-French auditur, auditour, borrowed from Medieval Latin audītor "hearer, hearer of pleas (in court or Parliament), official who examines accounts," going back to Latin, "hearer, listener, disciple," from audīre "to hear" + -tor, agent suffix — more at audible entry 1

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of auditor was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near auditor

Cite this Entry

“Auditor.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/auditor. Accessed 14 May. 2024.

Kids Definition

auditor

noun
au·​di·​tor ˈȯd-ət-ər How to pronounce auditor (audio)
1
: a person who listens to or hears something or someone
especially : a member of an audience
2
: a person who audits accounts

Legal Definition

auditor

noun
au·​di·​tor ˈȯ-də-tər How to pronounce auditor (audio)
1
: a person qualified and authorized to examine and verify financial records
2
: a referee appointed by a court in a civil action
especially : one designated to prepare an account for the court see also master
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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