cashier

¹ American  

[ka-sheer] / kæˈʃɪər /

noun

1. an employee, as in a market or department store, who collects payments for customer purchases.

2. an executive who has charge of money, especially one who superintends monetary transactions, as in a bank.

3. an employee of a business establishment who keeps a record of financial transactions.

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cashier ² American  

[ka-sheer] / kæˈʃɪər /

verb (used with object)

1. to dismiss (a military officer) from service, especially with disgrace.

2. to discard; reject.

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cashier ¹ British  

/ kæˈʃɪə /

noun

1. a person responsible for receiving payments for goods, services, etc, as in a shop

2. Also called: teller.  an employee of a bank responsible for receiving deposits, cashing cheques, and other financial transactions; bank clerk

3. any person responsible for handling cash or maintaining records of its receipt and disbursement

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cashier ² British  

/ kæˈʃɪə /

verb

1. to dismiss with dishonour, esp from the armed forces

2. rare to put away or discard; reject

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Etymology

Origin of cashier¹

First recorded in 1570–80; from Middle French caissier “custodian of a money-box” (perhaps via Dutch ), equivalent to caisse “money-box” (from Provençal caissa, from Latin capsa “a case”) + -ier noun suffix; see origin at case ², -ier ²

Origin of cashier²

1570–80; < Middle Dutch kasseren < Middle French casser to break, discharge, annul < Latin quassāre to shatter; see quash

Explanation

A cashier is someone who works at a store ringing up people's purchases. Most cashiers use a cash register for keeping money and making change. Fast food restaurants, grocery stores, and book shops all hire cashiers to scan purchases or manually enter their prices into a register, process the customer's payment, and put the items in bags. In Britain, you can also call a bank teller a cashier. The word is from the Middle French caissier, "treasurer," which comes from caisse, "money box."

Example Sentences

Mr. Woods was all everyone was talking about, from the cashier in the pro shop to the starter on the first hole and the other members of my foursome.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 31, 2026

Typically, between Carlos's work and odd jobs Ana takes as a cook or cashier, the couple typically brings in $6,000 a month.

From Barron's • Feb. 1, 2026

The messages ricochet across an Iowa grocery store, a kind of ambient chorus while, at one of the few remaining manned checkout lines, a cashier squints at his screen.

From Salon • Jan. 3, 2026

Spelling out your email address to a cashier for a free rewards program seems innocent enough — but that’s often just the first step.

From MarketWatch • Dec. 16, 2025

“Golly, I’d sure like to meet that girl over there,” Powers confided to the cashier.

From "Fallout: Spies, Superbombs, and the Ultimate Cold War Showdown" by Steve Sheinkin

Related Words

• accountant
• clerk
• teller