Clerk

Definition

A clerk is a person employed in an office or retail setting to perform various administrative, record-keeping, or customer service tasks. In legal and government contexts, a clerk may also refer to someone responsible for maintaining official documents and records.

Parts of Speech

• Noun

Pronunciation

American English

• IPA Pronunciation: /klɜrk/
• Respelling: klurk

British English

• IPA Pronunciation: /klɑːk/
• Respelling: klahk

Etymology

The word "clerk" comes from the Old English word "clerc," which was derived from the Latin "clericus," meaning "clergyman." In medieval times, clerics were often the only literate members of society, so the term evolved to refer to individuals responsible for administrative duties such as record-keeping and writing.

Derivatives

• Clerical (adjective)
• Clerkship (noun)
• Clerkly (adjective)
• Clerkdom (noun)
• Clerking (verb)

Synonyms

• Secretary
• Administrator
• Bookkeeper

Antonyms

• Executive
• Manager
• Supervisor

Usage

The term "clerk" is used widely across various industries and contexts. In office settings, clerks manage administrative tasks, such as filing documents, answering phones, or managing appointments, for example, "The office clerk scheduled the meeting." In legal or government settings, a clerk often maintains official records, for instance, "The court clerk processed the legal documents." In retail, a clerk serves customers by handling sales transactions and inquiries.

Related Terms

• Registrar: A person responsible for keeping official records.
• Cashier: A person responsible for handling payments and transactions in a retail setting.
• Office assistant: A general term for a person who performs administrative support tasks.

Detailed Definitions

Noun

• An office or administrative worker: Refers to someone responsible for administrative and organizational tasks.
  • Example: "The office clerk filed the reports for the manager."
• A retail employee handling customer transactions: Describes someone working in a store to assist customers and process sales.
  • Example: "The store clerk helped the customer find the correct size."
• A legal or government official responsible for records: Refers to a person tasked with maintaining official or legal documents.
  • Example: "The court clerk recorded the proceedings."