Exchequer: meaning, definitions and examples

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exchequer

[ɪkˈʃɛkə ]

Definitions

^{Context #1 | Noun}

government finance

The exchequer is a department or office in government in the United Kingdom and some other countries which controls the public money and collects taxes.

Synonyms

finance ministry, fiscal department, treasury.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
exchequer	Mostly used in British English to refer to the government's department responsible for managing and overseeing public funds. The Chancellor of the Exchequer will announce the budget next week. The Exchequer is responsible for collecting taxes and allocating public expenditure.
treasury	A widely used term in both British and American English for a government's department responsible for financial and economic policy. It often includes managing the public debt and overseeing the national budget. The Treasury announced new measures to stimulate the economy. The company decided to donate a part of their earnings to the national treasury.
finance ministry	A general term used internationally to describe the government department that manages a nation’s finances, including the budget, monetary policy, and national revenue. It's more neutral and can be used in various English-speaking countries. The Finance Ministry released the annual economic report. He works as an economic advisor in the Finance Ministry.
fiscal department	Can refer to any governmental division focused on fiscal policies, including both revenue collection and public spending. It’s a more generic term and less commonly used in everyday language. The fiscal department is responsible for ensuring compliance with tax laws. Budget planning falls under the jurisdiction of the fiscal department.

Examples of usage

The Chancellor of the Exchequer is responsible for managing the country's finances.
The exchequer plays a crucial role in ensuring the government has enough funds to operate smoothly.

^{Context #2 | Noun}

historical

The exchequer was a royal or national treasury in the Middle Ages, when it was also a court of law responsible for dealing with cases relating to revenue and taxation.

Synonyms

financial department, revenue office, treasury.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
exchequer	Primarily used in the UK to refer to the government department responsible for managing national revenue, taxation, and public spending. The Chancellor of the Exchequer announced the new budget. The exchequer plays a crucial role in economic stability.
treasury	A term used to describe both the department and the funds/assets it manages. In the context of government, it refers to the department responsible for managing public finance, including debt issuance and monetary policy; in a business, it refers to the department managing financial assets and liabilities. The treasury department is preparing for the bond sale. She was appointed as the new head of the Treasury.
financial department	General term for any department, within a government or a private organization, responsible for managing financial activities, such as budgeting, accounting, and financial planning. The financial department oversees all expense reports. She works in the financial department of a large corporation.
revenue office	Specifically used to refer to a government office responsible for collecting taxes and other forms of government revenue. He had to visit the revenue office to sort out his tax issues. The revenue office implements the new tax policies.

Examples of usage

During the Middle Ages, the exchequer was a key institution for managing the kingdom's finances.
The exchequer was both a financial and judicial institution in medieval England.

Interesting Facts

Etymology

The term comes from the Old French word 'eschequier', which means a checkered cloth used on a counting table.
It originally referred to a chessboard-like surface used for accounting and keeping track of financial matters in medieval times.

History

In England, the Exchequer was established in the 12th century as an institution to manage the royal finances.
The first recorded Exchequer in France dates back to the 13th century, where it functioned similarly by overseeing taxation and expenditures.

Government

The Exchequer is responsible for collecting national revenue, including taxes, duties, and public loans.
In the UK, the Chancellor of the Exchequer is a key government official who oversees the economic and financial matters of the state.

Pop Culture

The term 'exchequer' has appeared in various forms of media, often highlighting themes of power, wealth management, and political intrigue.
In movies and literature, characters in financial sectors are sometimes humorously referred to as 'exchequers' to emphasize their money-handling roles.

Economics

Exchequers oversee fiscal policies that determine how governments allocate funds for public services like education, health, and infrastructure.
They also play a crucial role in economic stability, influencing inflation and economic growth through their financial strategies.

Translations

Translations of the word "exchequer" in other languages:

🇵🇹 erário

🇮🇳 कोषागार

🇩🇪 Staatskasse

🇮🇩 perbendaharaan

🇺🇦 казначейство

🇵🇱 skarb państwa

🇯🇵 財務省

🇫🇷 trésor

🇪🇸 erario

🇹🇷 hazine

🇰🇷 국고

🇸🇦 الخزانة

🇨🇿 státní pokladna

🇸🇰 štátna pokladnica

🇨🇳 财政部

🇸🇮 državna blagajna

🇮🇸 ríkissjóður

🇰🇿 қазына

🇬🇪 საგანძური

🇦🇿 xəzinə

🇲🇽 erario

Word Frequency Rank

With rank #17,410, this word belongs to specialized vocabulary. While not common in everyday speech, it enriches your ability to express complex ideas.

...
17407 commodious
17408 inaccuracy
17409 impetuous
17410 exchequer
17411 miraculously
17412 conjectured
17413 jade
...