cashier's check: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Formal
Quick answer
What does “cashier's check” mean?
A check guaranteed for payment by a bank's own funds, drawn on the bank itself rather than on a customer's account.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A check guaranteed for payment by a bank's own funds, drawn on the bank itself rather than on a customer's account.
A highly secure, bank-issued payment instrument often required for large transactions such as real estate purchases or car sales, because the funds are immediately removed from the purchaser's account and become the bank's liability.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term 'cashier's check' is predominantly American. The British English equivalent is 'banker's draft' (or often just 'bank draft').
Connotations
In the US, it carries connotations of a large, secure transaction. In the UK, 'banker's draft' is a standard formal banking term.
Frequency
Very common in US financial contexts; the term 'cashier's check' is rarely used in the UK.
Grammar
How to Use “cashier's check” in a Sentence
[Bank] issued a cashier's check to [Recipient] for [Amount][Buyer] paid with a cashier's check[Seller] requested a cashier's checkVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “cashier's check” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The solicitor advised us to banker's draft the deposit.
American English
- We need to cashier's-check the payment for the boat.
adjective
British English
- The banker's draft payment was received.
American English
- She provided cashier's-check funds.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used for high-value transactions, escrow payments, and settling debts where payment security is paramount.
Academic
Appears in finance, economics, and law texts discussing payment systems and financial instruments.
Everyday
Used by individuals when buying a car or making a down payment on a house.
Technical
Discussed in banking regulations concerning funds availability and check fraud.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “cashier's check”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “cashier's check”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “cashier's check”
- Misspelling as 'cashier check' (omitting the apostrophe-s)
- Confusing it with a 'certified check' (where the bank certifies the signature and funds on a personal check)
- Using it interchangeably with 'money order' (which is purchased with cash and has lower limits).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
A cashier's check is drawn on the bank's funds after the bank deducts the money from your account. A certified check is your personal check, but the bank certifies that your signature is genuine and sets aside the funds in your account to cover it.
It is very difficult, often requiring proof of loss, theft, or fraud, and may involve purchasing an indemnity bond from an insurance company. It is not as simple as stopping a personal check.
It is one of the safest forms of payment for the recipient because the bank guarantees the funds. However, scams involving fake cashier's checks are common, so the recipient should still verify its authenticity with the issuing bank.
The standard term in British English is 'banker's draft' or simply 'bank draft'.
A check guaranteed for payment by a bank's own funds, drawn on the bank itself rather than on a customer's account.
Cashier's check is usually formal in register.
Cashier's check: in British English it is pronounced /kæˈʃɪəz tʃek/, and in American English it is pronounced /kæˈʃɪrz tʃek/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Good as gold (when referring to the guaranteed payment of a cashier's check)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a CASHier at a bank personally writing you a CHECK. It's the bank's cashier, not yours, guaranteeing the funds.
Conceptual Metaphor
A SUPERVISED PROMISE (The bank supervises and backs the promise of payment, making it more solid than a personal promise).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is a key characteristic of a cashier's check?