clerk

The definition of a clerk is a person who works in an office doing duties such as filing, organizing, mailing, etc. or a person who works at a sales counter.

(noun)

  1. An example of a clerk is a secretary.
  2. An example of a clerk is a person working at a hotel lobby desk.

YourDictionary definition and usage example. Copyright © 2013 by LoveToKnow Corp.

See clerk in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun

  1. a layman who has certain minor duties in a church
  2. an office worker who keeps records, types letters, does filing, etc.
  3. an official in charge of the records, accounts, etc. of a school board, court, town, etc.
  4. ☆ a hotel employee who keeps the register, assigns guests to rooms, etc.
  5. ☆ a person who sells in a store; salesclerk
  6. a person who handles mail, etc., as in a post office
  7. Archaic a clergyman
  8. Archaic a literate person; scholar

Origin: ME < OFr & OE clerc, both < LL(Ec) clericus, a priest < Gr(Ec) klērikos, a cleric < klēros, lot, inheritance (later, from use in LXX, Deut. 18:2, of the Levites, hence the Christian clergy), orig., a shard used in casting lots < IE *klaro- < base *kel-, to strike > OIr clar, a board, tablet, L calamitas, calamity

intransitive verb

☆ to work or be employed as a clerk, esp. a salesclerk

Related Forms:

See clerk in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun
  1. A person who works in an office performing such tasks as keeping records, attending to correspondence, or filing.
  2. a. A person who keeps the records and performs the regular business of a court, legislative body, or municipal district.
    b. Law A law clerk, as for a judge.
  3. A person who works at a sales counter or service desk, as at a store or hotel.
  4. A cleric.
  5. Archaic A scholar.
intransitive verb clerked, clerk·ing, clerks
To work or serve as a clerk: clerked in a store; clerks for a judge.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English, clergyman, secretary

Origin: , from Old English clerc

Origin: and Old French clerc, clergyman

Origin: , both from Late Latin clēricus

Origin: , from Greek klērikos, belonging to the clergy

Origin: , from klēros, inheritance, lot

.

Related Forms:

  • clerkˈdom noun
  • clerkˈshipˌ noun

Learn more about clerk

clerk

link/cite print suggestion box