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; case ², -ier ²

Origin of cashier²

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

Bank of England chief cashier Victoria Cleland said the key driver for a new series of banknotes was how to stay ahead of counterfeiters.

From Barron's • Mar. 12, 2026

Miranda said seeing Bad Bunny - who in 2016 worked as a grocery store cashier - represent Puerto Rico, an American territory, with pride, love, and authenticity "means everything".

From BBC • Feb. 6, 2026

As a young adult, she enjoyed what appeared to be a happy marriage to Charles “Handsome Charlie” Eldredge, a doting bank cashier, before tragedy struck, and struck again.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 27, 2026

“You’d better bring another bag next time,” the cashier quipped.

From Salon • Jan. 1, 2026

Gangly, bespectacled, hair black as an oil slick and always perfectly combed forward, Tucker was a busboy, waiter, and cashier here at Finnegan’s, not to mention the smartest person I’d ever met.

From "Made You Up" by Francesca Zappia

Related Words

• accountant
• clerk
• teller