Skip to main content
clerk

clerk

273 2.5
A person who keeps records and does office tasks
  • noun
  • /klɜrk/
translation icon : empleado administrativo
  • You were a clerk for a criminal court judge, and I remember because back then, I thought "clerk" meant you worked at the cash register.
  • an office clerk
  • accounts payable clerk
  • receiving clerk

So the chief clerk is about to leave.

Autoplay Next

Examples

  • Instead, at 18, he got a job as an apprentice clerk and bookkeeper in a New York dry-goods store.

    Academic text (2011)
  • The clerk will notify you about our next meeting.

  • So the chief clerk is about to leave.

  • Some people think this is a job for a clerk.

  • Will the clerk please bring the verdict up?

  • You can get one at the county clerk's office.

  • If the parent fails to appear at the hearing, the clerk can issue a bench warrant for his arrest.

    Academic text (2017)
  • I will direct the Clerk of the House to ensure that the Journal is corrected accordingly.

  • The clerk at the front desk helped me find my appointment.

  • She works as a clerk in a law firm, managing documents and schedules.

Synonyms

secretary
vsclerk
496 1.3

A person who helps with office work like answering calls and doing paperwork

is broader, handling records and a variety of office tasks
receptionist
vsclerk
86 2.6

A person who greets visitors, answers the phone, and gives information at an office or hotel

focuses more broadly on records and internal administrative work
scribe
vsclerk
25 6.2

A person who writes or records information for other people

performs general record and administrative work rather than specialized writing only
bookkeeper
vsclerk
24 3.2

A person who records a business's money received and spent

performs wider office record and administrative duties beyond bookkeeping
desk clerk
vsclerk
14 2.1

A person who works at a hotel's front desk and helps guests with check-ins and questions

is a general office worker focused on records and varied administration
registrar
vsclerk
  • Formal
10 5.3

An official who keeps records of births, deaths, and marriages

is a general office worker maintaining records and other administrative tasks
file clerk
vsclerk
  • US
7 3.2

A person who organizes and keeps office papers and records

does filing among other office duties and wider administrative responsibilities
recorder
vsclerk
4 3.3

A person who writes and keeps the official papers for a group

has a broader set of office duties beyond maintaining official accounts
paper-pusher
vsclerk
  • Offensive
4 6.5

An office worker who spends most of their time doing forms and paperwork

does a broader range of administrative and record-keeping responsibilities
bank clerk
vsclerk
3 2.1

A person who works at a bank and helps customers with money

performs records and administrative tasks across offices, not only banking
hotel clerk
vsclerk
2 2.0

A person at a hotel's front desk who greets guests and handles check-ins and check-outs

is a general office worker focused on records and varied admin duties
town clerk
vsclerk
  • Formal
2 3.1

An official who keeps the town's records and papers

is a general office worker handling records across many organisations
timekeeper
vsclerk
1 3.9

A person who records the hours people work

performs general administrative and record tasks beyond tracking hours
filing clerk
vsclerk
1 2.7

A person who organizes and keeps documents for an office

includes filing work but also handles other administrative and record tasks
shipping clerk
vsclerk
1 3.1

A person who checks and prepares goods to send or receive at a warehouse

is a general office worker handling records and varied administrative tasks
record-keeper
vsclerk
1 3.8

A person who writes and saves important official information in files

is a general office worker who handles records plus other tasks
filer
vsclerk
1 5.1

A person who puts office papers in order and keeps them safe

does a wider range of administrative and record tasks beyond filing
postal clerk
vsclerk
1 2.6

A person who works at a post office and helps people with mail

is a general office worker focused on records and varied administration
mail clerk
vsclerk
  • US
1 2.8

A person who sorts and handles mail in an office or post office

performs general office record and administrative tasks beyond mail handling
shop clerk
vsclerk
1 1.9

A person who helps customers buy things in a store

focuses on records and office administration rather than customer sales
1 2.7

A person at the front desk of a hotel who helps guests

carries out general records and administrative duties across settings
room clerk
vsclerk
  • US
1 3.4

A hotel worker at the front desk who gives rooms and keys to guests

does general administrative and record-keeping across different office contexts
tallyman
vsclerk
  • Archaic
1 8.9

A person who counts and records items like votes or goods

handles general records and administrative tasks not limited to tallying
penpusher
vsclerk
  • Slang
8.2

A person who does boring office paperwork all day

may do routine paperwork but also handles varied record and admin work
recordist
vsclerk
  • Formal
6.2

A person who keeps and updates an organization's official documents

is a general office worker who handles records and other duties
tally clerk
vsclerk
8.0

A person who counts and writes down the number or weight of goods

handles record-keeping plus broader administrative tasks beyond counting goods
commis
vsclerk
  • Archaic
9.8

A junior worker who helps in a shop or office

is a modern general office worker handling records and varied tasks
booking clerk
vsclerk
3.2

A person who sells tickets for trains, shows, or travel

performs records and administrative duties rather than direct ticket sales

Compounds

14 2.1

A person who works at a hotel's front desk and helps guests with check-ins and questions

7 3.2

A person who organizes and keeps office papers and records

3 2.1

A person who works at a bank and helps customers with money

2 2.0

A person at a hotel's front desk who greets guests and handles check-ins and check-outs

town clerk
  • Formal
2 3.1

An official who keeps the town's records and papers

1 2.7

A person who organizes and keeps documents for an office

A person who checks and prepares goods to send or receive at a warehouse

1 2.8

A person who sorts and handles mail in an office or post office

1 2.6

A person who works at a post office and helps people with mail

A person at the front desk of a hotel who helps guests

1 3.4

A hotel worker at the front desk who gives rooms and keys to guests

1 1.9

A person who helps customers buy things in a store

A person who sells tickets for trains, shows, or travel

A person who counts and writes down the number or weight of goods

How Important

executive
533 4.5
manager
1.6
supervisor
346 2.8
cog
17 6.7
clerk
273 2.5
intern
229 3.1

Surface Forms

clerk singular
clerks plural

Etymology

Clerk comes from cleric, which meant a 'church worker' who could 'read and write'. Because those church people kept records, clerk came to mean someone who keeps records and does office work.