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credit account

credit account

1 3.2
An arrangement with a shop that lets a customer buy now and pay later
  • noun
  • /ˈkrɛdɪt əˈkaʊnt/
translation icon : cuenta de crédito
  • It's been four weeks since anyone gave you any money on a credit account.
  • open a credit account

Examples

  • When other things crop up, they will need to open up another credit account or do what most people have done over the past 15 to 20 years.

    Blog text (26)
  • Give me access to all credit accounts.

  • Before choosing a house, be sure to avoid any large purchases or shift funds between credit accounts.

    Blog text (25)
  • He's got a credit account.

  • Are you checking your bank and credit account for proper reconciliation (i.e., do your money comings and goings match up to your records)?

    Blog text (3)
  • You can buy everyday necessities using a credit account and pay for them later.

  • Many retailers offer credit accounts to customers who regularly shop with them.

  • It's wise to manage your payments carefully when using a credit account to avoid debt.

Synonyms

credit
vscredit account
3.1

An amount of money you can borrow now and pay back later

applies specifically to business purchase arrangements rather than records or virtual funds
line of credit
vscredit account
  • Specialized
24 3.1

A plan from a bank that lets you borrow up to a set amount

focuses on buying now and paying later with a seller rather than bank borrowing
credit line
vscredit account
6 3.7

The largest amount a bank allows you to borrow when needed

concerns deferred payment for purchases from a seller rather than bank lending
open account
vscredit account
5 4.3

An agreement to get goods or services now and pay later

is used more for everyday seller credit rather than formal bank lending
charge account
vscredit account
2 3.4

An account at a store that lets you buy now and pay later

is the same arrangement as the main entry but with a different name
revolving charge account
vscredit account
  • Specialized
7.5

A payment plan that lets you keep owing money and pay over time

requires later payment but does not involve carrying a monthly balance

Antonyms

3 3.8

To pay for goods or services before you receive them

How Much

business loan
12 2.7
line of credit
  • Specialized
24 3.1
revolving credit
  • Specialized
1 5.6
credit account
1 3.2

Surface Forms

Morphology

credit + account

The meaning is directly derivable from combining 'credit' (a financial arrangement allowing deferred payment) with 'account' (a record or arrangement with a business); together they naturally denote an account that operates on credit terms. This compound follows a common, cross-linguistic commerce logic and standard English noun–noun composition, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents will very likely infer the MWE's meaning.

Etymology

The compound noun credit account comes from two simple ideas: credit meaning the trust a shop gives you to pay later, and account meaning a record of what you owe. So a credit account is an agreement that lets you 'buy now, pay later'.