Account Number: Definition, Examples & How to Use

Meaning 1：Bank account identifier (account number)

account number 🔊

/əˈkaʊnt ˈnʌmbər/

n. phra.

A unique series of digits assigned by a bank to identify a specific customer's account.

Account number on blue debit card close-up

Bank account identifier 🔊

➕

/bæŋk əˈkaʊnt aɪˈdɛntɪfaɪər/

n. phra.

A unique sequence of digits assigned by a bank to identify a specific customer's account for transactions and record-keeping.

📁 Category：Social Economy 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

"Account" from Latin "computare" (to count); "number" from Latin "numerus" (a number).

💡 Mnemonic

Imagine your bank account as a safe; the number is the unique combination to open it.

📖 Example

I need to know the account number to pay the company's invoice. 🔊 I need to know the account number to pay the company's invoice.

🔗 Collocations

enter your account number – Type or input the bank account identifier

account number format – The specific arrangement of digits used for account identification

verify the account number – Confirm that the account identifier is correct

🔄 Synonyms

bank account ID (n. phr.) – Another term for a unique identifier for a bank account

customer account code (n. phr.) – A code assigned to a specific customer's account

account identifier (n. phr.) – Any label used to uniquely refer to an account

🚫 Antonyms

PIN code (n. phr.) – A secret numeric password used for authentication, distinct from an account number

routing number (n. phr.) – A nine-digit code identifying a financial institution, not a specific account

transaction reference (n. phr.) – A code for a single transaction, not a permanent account identifier

🌱 Derivatives

account numbering system (n. phr.) – A systematic method for assigning account numbers

account holder number (n. phr.) – A number linked to the person who owns the account

bank account number length (n. phr.) – The number of digits in a typical bank account number

📖 Cultural Story

Bank account numbers emerged in the 19th century as banks expanded and needed a systematic way to identify customers uniquely, replacing manual ledger entries.