single entry: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2formal to neutral
Quick answer
What does “single entry” mean?
one record, item, or listing in a system, document, or database.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
one record, item, or listing in a system, document, or database
1) a single booking or registration for one person or thing; 2) a solitary line or item in a list; 3) the act of entering data one item at a time; 4) in accounting, a system where each transaction is recorded only once
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning. Americans might use 'single listing' or 'one-line entry' more interchangeably.
Connotations
Both varieties carry technical/business connotations. Slightly more administrative in British English.
Frequency
Equally common in both varieties in technical/business contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “single entry” in a Sentence
[verb] + single entry (e.g., make, create, record)single entry + [preposition] + [noun] (e.g., single entry in the log)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “single entry” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- We need to single-entry each transaction manually.
American English
- The software allows you to single-entry items quickly.
adverb
British English
- Transactions were recorded single-entry.
American English
- The data was input single-entry.
adjective
British English
- They use a single-entry bookkeeping system.
American English
- This is a single-entry database table.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Refers to simple bookkeeping methods or individual database records.
Academic
Used in economics, accounting, or library science discussions.
Everyday
Can describe signing up for events individually or making one note.
Technical
Specific database or accounting term denoting a basic record structure.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “single entry”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “single entry”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “single entry”
- Using 'single entry' as an adjective without a noun (e.g., 'It is single entry' – better: 'It is a single entry system').
- Confusing with 'single-entry visa' (which is hyphenated).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, while it's a key accounting term, it can refer to any individual record in databases, lists, logs, or event registrations.
Usually not when used as a noun phrase ('make a single entry'). Hyphenate when it directly modifies a noun as a compound adjective ('single-entry bookkeeping').
The main opposite is 'double-entry' bookkeeping, where each transaction is recorded in two accounts (debit and credit).
Yes, it can describe a person's participation (e.g., 'He is a single entry in the tournament') meaning he is entered alone, not as part of a team.
one record, item, or listing in a system, document, or database.
Single entry is usually formal to neutral in register.
Single entry: in British English it is pronounced /ˈsɪŋɡl ˈɛntri/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈsɪŋɡl ˈɛntri/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “single entry to fame (rare)”
- “not a single entry (emphasizing absence)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a SINGLE person writing ONE ENTRY in a diary.
Conceptual Metaphor
DATABASE IS A LIBRARY (each entry is like one book on a shelf).
Practice
Quiz
Which field most commonly uses 'single entry' as a technical term?