clerk

[klurk, klahrk]

noun

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.

verb (used without object)

1. to act or serve as a clerk.

clerk

/ 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

verb

1. (intr) to serve as a clerk

Other Word Forms

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of clerk¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of clerk¹

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

Example Sentences

Such teams typically include the principal, school secretary, community liaison, a child welfare and attendance clerk, and a social worker.

From Los Angeles Times

She said she had a conversation with a Black records clerk who gave her a hint as to why.

From Los Angeles Times

The city administrator, city clerk and members of the City Council did not respond to requests for comment.

From Los Angeles Times

"Dealing with a suspected bomb in a playground is not exactly something they cover in the clerk's manual," she says with a wry smile, "but we sealed off the site straight away."

From BBC

Imagine the reverse scenario of a county court clerk refusing to issue marriage licenses to Christians because he disapproved of their religion.

From Salon

Related Words

• agent 
• auditor 
• bookkeeper www.thesaurus.com
• cashier 
• employee 
• operator 
• receptionist 
• salesperson 
• secretary 
• teller 
• worker