exchequer
n. countablen. the government department in charge of public money, especially in the UK. It is the place where taxes are collected and government spending is managed.
n. the national treasury or the government department responsible for the management and collection of public revenue. Often used metonymically to refer to the financial resources of a state or organization.
The Chancellor of the Exchequer announced new tax cuts today.
The proposed infrastructure project will require a significant investment from the national exchequer over the next decade.
Economists warned that the sudden drop in oil prices would leave a substantial hole in the exchequer, forcing the government to reconsider its planned social spending.
Proprialization of exchequer.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
When referring to the British government department, it is almost always capitalized as 'the Exchequer'.
Last updated May 8, 2026