cheque account: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Formal, Financial, British-influenced varieties
Quick answer
What does “cheque account” mean?
A bank account from which money can be taken out by writing cheques.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A bank account from which money can be taken out by writing cheques.
A type of current account offered by banks, primarily in Commonwealth countries, specifically designed for transactions using cheques and often linked to debit card and direct debit services.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In British-influenced English (UK, AU, NZ, SA, etc.), 'cheque account' is standard. In American English, the equivalent term is 'checking account', using the spelling 'check'.
Connotations
In the UK, 'current account' is a more common superordinate term, with 'cheque account' specifying the cheque feature. In the US, 'checking account' is the dominant, neutral term.
Frequency
'Cheque account' is high-frequency in financial contexts in Commonwealth countries but rare in the US, where 'checking account' is universal.
Grammar
How to Use “cheque account” in a Sentence
open a ~deposit into a ~withdraw from a ~hold a ~ with [Bank]overdraw your ~Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “cheque account” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The bank will cheque-account the fees monthly.
American English
- Not applicable as a verb in standard usage.
adjective
British English
- She provided her cheque-account details for the direct debit.
American English
- He reviewed his checking-account statement online.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in corporate banking for company operating funds, e.g., 'The invoice should be paid from the company's main cheque account.'
Academic
Rare; may appear in economics or finance textbooks discussing banking systems and payment methods.
Everyday
Common in personal banking discussions, e.g., 'My salary goes directly into my cheque account.'
Technical
Used in banking software, financial regulations, and account product descriptions to specify the account type.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “cheque account”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “cheque account”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “cheque account”
- Spelling 'cheque account' as 'check account' in British English contexts.
- Confusing it with a 'savings account', which is not intended for frequent cheque transactions.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
In British English, a 'cheque account' is a type of current account, specifically one that allows you to write cheques. 'Current account' is the broader category.
Yes, modern accounts can still be classified as cheque accounts (allowing cheque payments in principle) even if you don't order a physical chequebook.
Typically, interest rates on cheque/checking accounts are very low or zero, unlike savings accounts which are designed for earning interest.
Its main purpose is to facilitate daily financial transactions such as receiving income, paying bills, making purchases via card or cheque, and withdrawing cash.
A bank account from which money can be taken out by writing cheques.
Cheque account is usually formal, financial, british-influenced varieties in register.
Cheque account: in British English it is pronounced /tʃek əˈkaʊnt/, and in American English it is pronounced /tʃek əˈkaʊnt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “The cheque's in the post (idiom related to payment, not the account itself)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: A 'cheque' is a paper payment; a 'cheque account' is the account you write those cheques from.
Conceptual Metaphor
MONEY IS A LIQUID (funds 'flow' in and out of a cheque account for daily transactions).
Practice
Quiz
Which term is the direct American English equivalent of 'cheque account'?