English · Word Candidate

debit

/ˈdɛb.ɪt/

Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.

Also seen as: debits · debiting · debited

Sense 1

Meaning · English

In bookkeeping, an entry in the left hand column of an account.

Noun

Examples

A cash sale is recorded as debit on the cash account and as credit on the sales account.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 2

Meaning · English

A sum of money taken out of a bank account. Thus called, because in bank's bookkeeping a cash withdrawal diminishes the amount of money held on the account, i.e. bank's debt to the customer.

Noun

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 3

Meaning · English

To make an entry on the debit side of an account.

Verb

Examples

The economist also observed that some of the Victoria Line's cost should be debited to existing lines, as they would benefit from the rebuilding of their interchange stations with the new tube.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 4

Meaning · English

To record a receivable in the bookkeeping.

Verb

Examples

We shall debit your account for the amount of the purchase.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “debit” mean?

In bookkeeping, an entry in the left hand column of an account.

Is “debit” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.