English Reference

Word

exchequer

Phoneticsex·che·quer

US/ˈɛksˌtʃɛkɝ/

UK/ɛkstʃˈɛkɐ/

Definition

n. 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.

Examples

“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.”

Examples

simple

“The Chancellor of the Exchequer announced new tax cuts today.”

contextual

“The proposed infrastructure project will require a significant investment from the national exchequer over the next decade.”

complex

“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.”

Usage

When referring to the British government department, it is almost always capitalized as 'the Exchequer'.

Real-World Examples

“Robert Jenrick , the Reform UK Treasury spokesperson, is claiming that a Nigel Farage-led government could save the exchequer almost £30bn a year by cutting UK government borrowing rates.”
The Guardian · 3 Sept 2026
“Betting shops are well-regulated enterprises that contribute to the exchequer and serve as centres of local sociability (something I thought our new prime minister was in favour of).”
The Guardian · 17 Aug 2026

Etymology

Proprialization of exchequer.

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

This entry

Level
C2 · Proficiency
Frequency
Occasional
Updated

Scan code

englishreference.com/q/exchequer

English Reference