daybook
C1Formal, Technical (Accounting/Bookkeeping), Historical
Definition
Meaning
A book for recording daily transactions or events as they occur; a daily record, especially in business or accounting.
A journal, diary, or logbook used to chronologically record events, appointments, or financial transactions on a daily basis. Historically, it was the primary book of original entry in double-entry accounting before posting to a ledger.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The term implies a temporary, chronological record that is later summarized or transferred to a more permanent system (like a ledger). It can refer to both physical books and digital equivalents in modern software.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. The term is equally technical in both varieties.
Connotations
Primarily connotes traditional bookkeeping, maritime logging, or historical record-keeping. Can sound somewhat old-fashioned.
Frequency
Low frequency in general language. Higher frequency in specific professional fields like accounting, law (for recording court daily events), and shipping.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
keep/maintain a daybook (of something)enter/record something in the daybookthe daybook shows/records/indicatesVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None specific to 'daybook'.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
In accounting, a book of prime entry where transactions are first recorded chronologically.
Academic
Used in historical research or studies of accounting practices as a primary source document.
Everyday
Rare in everyday conversation. Might be used for a detailed personal diary or project log.
Technical
Standard term in bookkeeping, maritime law, and certain legal proceedings for a daily record.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The captain writes in the ship's daybook every day.
- Please make sure you enter all today's sales in the daybook before you leave.
- The auditor requested to see the original daybooks to verify the chronology of transactions.
- The historian's analysis was based largely on the meticulously kept daybooks of a 19th-century trading company, which provided a granular view of daily operations.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a BOOK where you write what happens each DAY. A DAY-BOOK.
Conceptual Metaphor
A CONTAINER FOR DAILY EVENTS; A CHRONOLOGICAL PATH.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating as "дневник" if the context is purely a schoolchild's diary. "Ежедневник" (appointment book) or "журнал" (log/journal) are often closer for business contexts. In accounting, "журнал операций" or "кассовая книга" might be specific equivalents.
Common Mistakes
- Confusing it with a 'ledger'. A daybook is for initial, daily recording; a ledger is for sorted, permanent accounts.
- Using it as a synonym for a casual personal diary in modern contexts sounds odd.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the term 'daybook' LEAST likely to be used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
They are similar as both are daily records. However, a 'daybook' typically implies a more formal, factual record for business, legal, or technical purposes, while a 'diary' is often more personal and reflective.
The conceptual function exists in all accounting software (e.g., sales journals, purchase journals), but the physical book is now rare. The term is still used in specific professions like law and shipping.
A daybook is the book of original entry, recording transactions in chronological order as they happen. A ledger is the book of secondary entry, where transactions from the daybook are sorted and posted into individual accounts (like 'Cash', 'Suppliers').
No, 'daybook' is exclusively a noun. The related action is 'to enter something in the daybook' or 'to keep a daybook'.