chequebook
B2Formal to neutral, primarily in financial, business, and everyday transactional contexts.
Definition
Meaning
A book of printed cheques issued by a bank to an account holder, used for making payments.
A physical or metaphorical tool for financial transactions; can refer to the power or means to spend money, especially in contexts like 'chequebook diplomacy' or 'chequebook journalism'.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The word is a compound noun (cheque + book). It primarily denotes a physical object but is often used metonymically to represent spending power or financial resources.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The spelling 'chequebook' is standard in British English. In American English, the spelling is 'checkbook'. The object and its function are identical.
Connotations
Identical connotations in both varieties. The metaphorical extensions (e.g., chequebook diplomacy) are used in both, though the spelling adapts.
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in British English due to the spelling distinction, but the concept is equally common in daily financial life in both regions.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
have + chequebookuse + chequebook + to + VERBpay + with + chequebookwrite + cheque + from + chequebookVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “chequebook diplomacy”
- “chequebook journalism”
- “balance the chequebook”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used for recording business expenses, paying suppliers, and managing company finances. 'All company payments must be authorised and recorded in the business chequebook.'
Academic
Rare in core academic texts. May appear in economics, political science, or media studies when discussing 'chequebook diplomacy' or financial metaphors.
Everyday
Common for personal banking, paying bills, rent, or tradespeople. 'I need to order a new chequebook from my bank.'
Technical
In banking/finance, refers to the specific physical product issued to current account holders.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I keep my chequebook in my desk drawer.
- The bank sent me a new chequebook.
- Could you write the rent cheque from your chequebook, please?
- I must remember to balance my chequebook this weekend.
- The scandal was uncovered through chequebook journalism, with reporters paying for information.
- Modern banking has made the physical chequebook somewhat obsolete.
- The country's foreign policy was criticised as mere chequebook diplomacy, lacking genuine strategic partnership.
- Auditors traced the discrepancy back to several missing stubs from the company chequebook.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a BOOK where you keep your CHEQUES. It's literally a book of cheques.
Conceptual Metaphor
MONEY IS A TOOL (The chequebook is a tool for accessing/controlling money); POWER IS WEALTH (e.g., 'chequebook diplomacy' implies using financial power to influence).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct calque 'чековый книжка'. The standard Russian term is 'чековая книжка'.
- Do not confuse with 'бухгалтерская книга' (accounting ledger).
- The metaphorical uses ('чековая дипломатия') are direct translations but may sound foreign.
Common Mistakes
- Misspelling as 'checkbook' in a British English context.
- Using 'chequebook' to refer to a general notebook or ledger.
- Incorrect plural: 'chequebooks' (correct), not 'chequebook' for plural.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary American English spelling for 'chequebook'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
In modern standard English, it is almost always written as one closed compound word: 'chequebook' (UK) / 'checkbook' (US).
Usage has declined significantly with the rise of digital payments, direct debits, and bank transfers. However, they are still used for certain transactions, by some businesses, and by individuals who prefer them.
It refers to the practice of news organisations paying large sums of money for exclusive rights to a story or interview, often with celebrities or individuals involved in scandals. It is frequently viewed as unethical.
You should inform your bank immediately to report it lost or stolen. They will cancel the existing chequebook and its cheque numbers to prevent fraud, and issue you a new one with a new sequence of numbers.