clerk

American  

[klurk, klahrk] / klɜrk, klɑrk /

noun

• clerks
  plural

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

2. a salesclerk.

3. a person who keeps the records and performs the routine business of a court, legislature, board, etc.

4. law clerk.

5. a member of the clergy; ecclesiastic.

6. a lay person charged with various minor ecclesiastical duties.

7. Archaic.

   1. a person who is able to read, or to read and write.

   2. a scholar.

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verb (used without object)

1. to act or serve as a clerk.

clerk British  

/ klɜːrk, klɑːk /

noun

1. a worker, esp in an office, who keeps records, files, etc

2. (in England) a legally qualified person who sits in court with lay justices to advise them on points of law

3. an employee of a court, legislature, board, corporation, etc, who keeps records and accounts, etc

   a town clerk

4. Also called: clerk of the House.  a senior official of the House of Commons

5. Also called: clerk in holy orders.  a cleric

6. short for salesclerk

7. Also called: desk clerk.  a hotel receptionist

8. archaic a scholar

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verb

1. (intr) to serve as a clerk

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• clerkdom
  noun
• clerkship
  noun
• outclerk
  noun
• subclerk
  noun
• subclerkship
  noun
• underclerk
  noun
• underclerkship
  noun
• clerkish
  adjective
• clerklike
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• clerks
  plural

Etymology

Origin of clerk

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

Explanation

A clerk is an office worker who does various paper work and often keeps accounts of money or other details. An office clerk might answer the phone, file papers, or organize computer records. A clerical worker is one kind of clerk, and another is the person behind a counter at a store who rings up sales on a cash register. The clerk at your favorite bookstore might also recommend the best new books. Clerk originally had a religious meaning, from cleric, which meant both "ordained person" and "literate person." Because of this second meaning, clerk came to mean "anyone who can read or write."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

clerk clerks

“It’s just a thing, you go up there, this is what you do to prepare,” said Laci Montgomery, a clerk there.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 27, 2026

This included the fear that she might lose him, specifically to a red-headed bank clerk who had flirted with him early on in their marriage.

From BBC ● Aug. 25, 2026

His campaign manager said Duncan has paused his pursuit of a law license in part because of his race for court clerk and Murrill’s persistent threats.

From Salon ● Aug. 10, 2026

Kennedy may be the last justice of his kind, said Washington University law professor Daniel Epps, a former Kennedy clerk.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 26, 2026

“Hey! You gotta pay for that!” the soda clerk shouted.

From "The Red Car to Hollywood" by Jennie Liu

For example, larger shares of dry cleaners and construction workers said they use AI on the job when compared to administrative assistants and data-entry clerks.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 1, 2026

And in a strong indication that he intends to stay through at least June 2027, he has hired a full roster of four law clerks for next term, according to a person close to Alito.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 10, 2026

Some date labels are intended to help store clerks with inventory management.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 26, 2026

Others are promised roles as drivers or clerks, or that the contract will last "just one year".

From Barron's ● Jun. 11, 2026

Mr. Gonzalez became the office manager and took control of the few dispirited clerks under him.

From "A Confederacy of Dunces" by John Kennedy Toole

Related Words

• agent
• auditor
• bookkeeper
• cashier
• employee
• operator
• receptionist
• salesperson
• secretary
• teller
• worker