Definition

1. Noun:
   • A principal accounting record: A ledger is a book or digital collection containing the final, permanent accounts of a financial transaction, organized by account type (e.g., cash, sales, expenses). It is the central record from which financial statements are prepared.
   • A flat stone slab: In architecture, a ledger is a large, flat stone used in construction, for example, as a horizontal slab covering a tomb or as part of a structure.

Usage

• As a primary financial record:
  • All transactions from the journal are posted to the general ledger.
  • The auditor requested to see the company's sales ledger for the past quarter.
• As an architectural stone:
  • The medieval tomb was topped with a heavy marble ledger.

Advanced Usage

• "General ledger": The master set of accounts that summarize all transactions occurring within an entity.
  • The balance sheet is prepared directly from the general ledger.
• "Subsidiary ledger": A detailed ledger that supports a general ledger account (e.g., an accounts receivable ledger listing all individual customer balances).
  • The total in the accounts receivable subsidiary ledger must match the control account in the general ledger.
• "On the ledger": Recorded in the official accounts.
  • That debt has been on the ledger for over a year.

Variants and Related Words

• Ledger line (noun): In musical notation, a short line added above or below the staff to extend its range for notes that are too high or too low.
  • The high C was written on a ledger line above the treble clef.
• Ledger board (noun): In construction, a horizontal board fastened to a wall or posts to support the ends of joists or other structural members.
  • The deck joists were secured to the ledger board attached to the house.

Synonyms

• Books (noun, plural): The financial records of a business. (e.g., )
• Register (noun): An official list or record. (e.g., )
• Daybook (noun): A book for recording daily transactions, often a journal. (e.g., )

Related Phrases

• To keep the ledger (phrase): To be responsible for maintaining the accounting records.
  • As the bookkeeper, it is her job to keep the ledger up to date.
• Ledger balance (noun phrase): The balance of an account as shown in the ledger.
  • The ledger balance may differ from the bank statement due to outstanding checks.

Noun

1. an accounting journal as a physical object
   • he bought a new daybook
2. a record in which commercial accounts are recorded
   • they got a subpoena to examine our books