chancellor of the exchequer: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, Political, British Institutional
Quick answer
What does “chancellor of the exchequer” mean?
The British government minister in charge of the nation's finances and responsible for the Treasury.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The British government minister in charge of the nation's finances and responsible for the Treasury.
The head of Her Majesty's Treasury, a senior cabinet minister who sets fiscal policy, prepares the annual budget, and oversees public spending and revenue.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
This is a uniquely British political title. The closest US equivalent is the Secretary of the Treasury.
Connotations
Conveys strong associations with British parliamentary tradition, fiscal policy, and the annual budget statement.
Frequency
Frequent in UK news, politics, and historical contexts; extremely rare in American English except when discussing UK affairs.
Grammar
How to Use “chancellor of the exchequer” in a Sentence
The Chancellor of the Exchequer [verb] that...A statement from the Chancellor of the ExchequerVocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Analysts await the Chancellor of the Exchequer's autumn budget for tax changes.
Academic
The historical role of the Chancellor of the Exchequer evolved from the medieval Exchequer.
Everyday
Did you hear what the Chancellor said about fuel duty in the news?
Technical
The Chancellor of the Exchequer is accountable for the Government's Finance Act.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “chancellor of the exchequer”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “chancellor of the exchequer”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “chancellor of the exchequer”
- Incorrect article: 'a Chancellor of the Exchequer' (should be 'the Chancellor...').
- Mispronouncing 'exchequer' as /ɛksˈtʃeɪkwər/.
- Using lower case: 'chancellor of the exchequer'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, they are different roles. The Prime Minister is the head of the government, while the Chancellor is the head of the Treasury and the finance minister.
Yes. The title remains 'Chancellor of the Exchequer' regardless of gender.
Historically, it was the court and government department dealing with revenue. Today, it is synonymous with the Treasury.
No. The US equivalent is the Secretary of the Treasury.
The British government minister in charge of the nation's finances and responsible for the Treasury.
Chancellor of the exchequer is usually formal, political, british institutional in register.
Chancellor of the exchequer: in British English it is pronounced /ˌtʃɑːns(ə)lər əv ði ɪksˈtʃɛkə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌtʃænsələr əv ði ɪksˈtʃɛkər/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “to deliver a red box (refers to the budget box)”
- “to be in Number 11 (Downing Street, the Chancellor's residence)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: The CHANCELLOR has the keys to the CHEST (Exchequer) of the country's money.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE NATION'S PURSE-HOLDER / THE CHIEF ACCOUNTANT OF THE STATE.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary responsibility of the Chancellor of the Exchequer?