accession number
C2Technical / Formal
Definition
Meaning
A unique identifier assigned to a newly acquired item (e.g., a book, specimen, artwork, or data record) in a systematic collection, archive, or database.
A code used for inventory control, cataloguing, and tracking within an institution's holdings; its format often encodes information such as the year of acquisition and sequence.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
This is a fixed compound noun with specialized meaning. It refers primarily to the *identifier itself*, not to the act of assigning it. It is a key tool in information science and collection management.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No lexical differences. The concept and term are identical in both varieties.
Connotations
Neutral and technical in both. Implies formality, system, and institutional record-keeping.
Frequency
Equally rare in general language but equally standard in professional contexts (museums, libraries, archives) in both the UK and US.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
The [item] has accession number [X].Please assign accession number [X] to the [item].It is filed under accession number [X].Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “It's all in the accession number.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. May be used in asset management or inventory contexts for high-value, tracked items.
Academic
Common in library science, archival studies, museology, and biological/geological specimen curation.
Everyday
Extremely rare. Unfamiliar to most non-specialists.
Technical
Standard, essential terminology in databases, collections management, and digitisation projects.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The archivist will accession the new documents next week.
American English
- The museum accessioned the artifact into its permanent collection.
adjective
British English
- The accession register must be updated annually.
- Follow the accession procedure precisely.
American English
- Please use the accession form for all new acquisitions.
- The accession date is recorded in the database.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Each book in the library's special collection has a unique accession number.
- The researcher needed the painting's accession number to find its conservation report.
- The accession number 1992.045.001 denotes it was the first item acquired in 1992.
- Without the correct accession number, locating the original manuscript in the vast archive would be nearly impossible.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a museum ACCEPTING a new SESSION of items. Each gets a numbered tag upon ACCESSION (arrival).
Conceptual Metaphor
AN ITEM IS A SOLDIER JOINING AN ARMY (it is formally enlisted and given a serial number).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid calquing as '*аксессный номер*' or '*номер акцессии*'. The concept is '*инвентарный номер*', '*учётный номер*', or '*шифр хранения*'. Do not confuse with 'access number' (*номер доступа*).
Common Mistakes
- Using 'access number' (for entry codes) instead of 'accession number'.
- Treating it as a verb phrase ('We will accession number the painting').
- Omitting the article ('Please quote accession number 2024.001' – should be '*the* accession number').
Practice
Quiz
In which professional context is the term 'accession number' MOST essential?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not exactly. A serial number is assigned by a manufacturer for a product line. An accession number is assigned by an institution to a specific item in its collection, often encoding acquisition data. A single item could have both.
No. 'Accession number' is strictly a noun phrase. However, the related verb is 'to accession' (to record and assign a number to a new acquisition).
It often includes the year of acquisition (e.g., 2024) and a sequential number (e.g., .001), formatted like '2024.001'. Some systems include codes for the collection or donor.
Typically, yes, in their internal cataloguing system. However, patrons usually search by ISBN, author, or title, not by the library's internal accession number.