clerk

[ klurk; British klahrk ]

See synonyms for: clerk clerkish on Thesaurus.com

noun

a person employed, as in an office, to keep records, file, type, or perform other general office tasks.
a salesclerk.

a person who keeps the records and performs the routine business of a court, legislature, board, etc.
law clerk.
a member of the clergy; ecclesiastic.
a lay person charged with various minor ecclesiastical duties.
Archaic.
- a person who is able to read, or to read and write.
- a scholar.

verb (used without object)

to act or serve as a clerk.

Origin of clerk

before 1000; Middle English, Old English clerc, variant of cleric<Late Latin clēricuscleric

Other words from clerk

clerkish, adjective
clerklike, adjective
clerkship, noun
outclerk, noun
subclerk, noun
sub·clerk·ship, noun
un·der·clerk, noun
un·der·clerk·ship, noun

Words Nearby clerk

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use clerk in a sentence

The sales clerk just laughed, telling him he was out of bullets and had only six guns in his inventory.
Fearing violence and political uncertainty, Americans are buying millions more firearms | Hannah Denham, Andrew Ba Tran | February 4, 2021 | Washington Post
Some clerks are prominent in conservative media, and among law professors.
Ginni Thomas apologizes to husband’s Supreme Court clerks after Capitol riot fallout | Robert Barnes | February 2, 2021 | Washington Post
Later, clerks published smaller, single sheets or annual subscriptions that Londoners would carry with them as part of the daily news.
Covid-19 dashboards are vital, yet flawed, sources of public information | Jacqueline Wernimont | January 26, 2021 | Washington Post
In Chula Vista, a city with a significantly larger budget than National City and Imperial Beach, the clerk simply tells the mayor and Council members how many comments were received and gives them a brief overview of their contents.
Chula Vista Police Chief Says She Didn’t Know Department Shared Data With Feds | Gustavo Solis | January 20, 2021 | Voice of San Diego
As a high-ranking clerk, Howard appears to have been involved in policy.
‘Purity’ was one of Hollywood’s most controversial films. Meet its D.C. writer. | John Kelly | January 11, 2021 | Washington Post

Judge Hinkle said “the Constitution requires the clerk to issue such licenses.”
The Back Alley, Low Blow-Ridden Fight to Stop Gay Marriage in Florida Is Finally Over | Jay Michaelson | January 5, 2015 | THE DAILY BEAST
Bob Cratchit, the clerk who is the father of Tiny Tim and who meekly serves Scrooge, is paid fifteen shillings a week.
How Dickens and Scrooge Saved Christmas | Clive Irving | December 22, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
As a way to be more available to needy souls outside the church, Williams took a clerk job at Walgreens pharmacy.
Exposed: The Gay-Bashing Pastor’s Same-Sex Assault | M.L. Nestel | December 21, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
On October 5, 2013, Wilson pointed a pistol at a postal clerk.
Post Office Robbers More Wanted Than ISIS | M.L. Nestel | December 13, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
But instead of talking to us and resolving the issue, or getting a manager involved, the clerk calls the cops.
The Day I Used Eric Garner’s Voice | Joshua DuBois | December 5, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
“You appear to feel it so,” rejoined Mr. Pickwick, smiling at the clerk, who was literally red-hot.
The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club, v. 2(of 2) | Charles Dickens
The office of clerk of the court is about to be sold, having been placed at fifteen hundred pesos.
The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898, Volume XX, 1621-1624 | Various
Hilda suggested that the ticket-clerk should be interrogated, but the aperture of communication with him was shut.
Hilda Lessways | Arnold Bennett
My father took me to the office in which I was to make a start and presented me to the chief clerk.
Fifty Years of Railway Life in England, Scotland and Ireland | Joseph Tatlow
Except the chief clerk, whose salary was about £160, I do not believe there was another whose pay exceeded £100 a year.
Fifty Years of Railway Life in England, Scotland and Ireland | Joseph Tatlow

British Dictionary definitions for clerk

clerk

/ (klɑːk, US Canadian klɜːrk) /

noun

a worker, esp in an office, who keeps records, files, etc
clerk to the justices (in England) a legally qualified person who sits in court with lay justices to advise them on points of law

an employee of a court, legislature, board, corporation, etc, who keeps records and accounts, etc: a town clerk
Also called: clerk of the House British a senior official of the House of Commons
Also called: clerk in holy orders a cleric
US and Canadian short for salesclerk
Also called: desk clerk US and Canadian a hotel receptionist
archaic a scholar

verb

(intr) to serve as a clerk

Origin of clerk

Old English clerc, from Church Latin clēricus, from Greek klērikos cleric, relating to the heritage (alluding to the Biblical Levites, whose inheritance was the Lord), from klēros heritage

Derived forms of clerk

clerkdom, noun
clerkish, adjective
clerkship, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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