chequebook

IPA/ˈtʃekbʊk/
IPA/ˈtʃekbʊk/

chequebook — noun

  • chequebooksingular
  • chequebooksplural

1. a small book of blank cheques that a bank gives an account holder, often with th

1.nounB2
Definition

a small book of blank cheques that a bank gives an account holder, often with the person's details already printed on each one, so payments can be written by hand.

Example

Haruto took his chequebook out to pay the school fees.

use a chequebook to make a written payment

My aunt keeps her chequebook in a locked desk at home.

Common collocations
  • take out a chequebook
  • new chequebook
  • keep a chequebook in a drawer
Synonyms
  • checkbook

    the usual American spelling for the same bank booklet

  • book of cheques

    a fuller descriptive phrase rather than the standard single-word headword

Grammar Patterns

take out a chequebook

keep a chequebook

receive a new chequebook

Usage Note

Mainly British English. American English usually says checkbook. Banks commonly send a new chequebook when the old one is finished or account details change.

Common Mistakes

I signed my chequebook before giving it to the landlord.
I signed a cheque from my chequebook before giving it to the landlord.
You sign the individual cheque, not the whole book.

2. the practice of paying people who are part of a news event so they will give a n

2.nounC1
Definition

the practice of paying people who are part of a news event so they will give a newspaper or broadcaster their version of the story.

Example

After paying Imran, the paper was accused of chequebook journalism.

passive: be accused of chequebook journalism

Critics called the royal interview chequebook journalism after the secret fee.

Common collocations
  • chequebook journalism
  • accuse a paper of chequebook journalism
  • ban chequebook journalism
Synonyms

Grammar Patterns

chequebook journalism

accuse a paper of chequebook journalism

ban chequebook journalism

Usage Note

Most often appears in the fixed phrase chequebook journalism and usually carries criticism. It suggests that money, not public interest, persuaded someone to speak.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Chequebook and checkbook name the same bank item, but chequebook is the British spelling and checkbook is the American one. Cheque book, written as two words, is an older spaced variant that some people still use. Book of cheques is a longer descriptive phrase rather than the everyday headword. A cheque is different again: it is one payment form taken from the chequebook, not the whole booklet. So you lose your chequebook if the full set disappears, but you write a cheque when you pay one bill. In modern banking, cards and transfers are more common, so chequebook often sounds slightly traditional.

chequebook ↗checkbook ↗cheque bookbook of chequescheque ↗

Etymology

ArabicFrenchEnglish

Chequebook is an English compound made from cheque and book. The British spelling cheque came into English through French and ultimately goes back to Arabic sakk, meaning a written order for payment, while book is an old native English word.