exchequer

[ eks-chek-er, iks-chek-er ]

noun

1. a treasury, as of a state or nation.
2. (in Great Britain)
   1. (often initial capital letter) the governmental department in charge of the public revenues.
   2. (formerly) an office administering the royal revenues and determining all cases affecting them.
   3. (initial capital letter) Also called Court of Exchequer. an ancient common-law court of civil jurisdiction in which cases affecting the revenues of the crown were tried, now merged in the King's Bench Division of the High Court.
3. Informal. one's financial resources; funds:

   I'd love to go, but the exchequer is a bit low.

Exchequer

¹

/ ɪksˈtʃɛkə /

noun

1. See Court of Exchequer

exchequer

²

/ ɪksˈtʃɛkə /

noun

1. often capital government (in Britain and certain other countries) the accounting department of the Treasury, responsible for receiving and issuing funds
2. informal.
   personal funds; finances

Word History and Origins

Origin of exchequer¹

1250–1300; Middle English escheker, eschequier < Anglo-French escheker, eschekier ( Old French eschequier ) chessboard, counting table. See checker ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of exchequer¹

C13 (in the sense: chessboard, counting table): from Old French eschequier , from eschec check

Example Sentences

Speaking about this subject, Braverman, who was home secretary under Rishi Sunak between 2022 and 2023, told us: “The broader objection that I would get from the prime minister and from the chancellor of the exchequer and other ministers, was that if we were going to cut immigration, then we would be actually cutting revenue”.

From BBC

The Conservatives may have managed the first three female prime ministers, with Labour’s record currently zero, but the first Budget from a female Chancellor of the Exchequer is a genuine moment of history.

From BBC

By mandating that the spending gaps will be filled by significant tax rises, the strategy here is to communicate overwhelming political pain tolerance to markets that lend money to the exchequer.

From BBC

Between them, these perks cost the exchequer about £50bn a year.

From BBC

An important thing to note is that a £20bn tax rise will be significant for the exchequer, but it’s by no means enormous in historic terms.

From BBC

Related Words

• gift
• money
• prize
• reward
• wealth