English Reference
Noun

bookkeeper

n.
B2 Upper Intermediate US /ˈbʊkˌkipɝ/ UK /bˈʊkkiːpɐ/ book·keep·er UK spelling bookkeeper's, bookkeeper's Accounting

n.a person who keeps a record of a business's money. They track every payment and receipt to make sure the books are balanced.

n.a person responsible for maintaining the financial records of a business or individual. Typically focuses on the day-to-day recording of transactions rather than the strategic analysis of financial data.


SIMPLE

The bookkeeper records every sale and expense.

CONTEXTUAL

After the accountant left, the small business hired a bookkeeper to manage the daily cash flow and payroll.

COMPLEX

While the bookkeeper ensures that the general ledger remains accurate, the financial director uses that data to forecast long-term growth and manage the company's overall debt.

Wong says she even did the company accounts on Sundays rather than pay for a bookkeeper because, at the time, saving the money mattered more than getting the day back.

BBC News· 19 Aug 2026

From book + keeper.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Occasional
Updated