B2noun2K

Clerk

UK /["/klɑːk/"]/US /["/klɜːrk/"]/

Definition

a person whose job is to serve customers in a shop

In simple words: A person who works in an office or shop, helping customers or managing records.

Examples

  • The clerk at the counter gave me too little change.
  • The clerk answered all our questions.
  • The hotel clerk greeted us warmly.
  • an office clerk
  • He started work as a railway booking clerk.
  • an articled clerk working for a large law firm
  • a bank clerk (= who deals with customers in a bank)
  • the Clerk of the Court
  • a former clerk to Chief Justice George P. Willison
  • He held the post of Clerk to the Council.

Usage notes

Used in formal and informal contexts. Commonly refers to retail or administrative workers but may not be appropriate for more specialized professions.

Grammar pattern

clerk + object

Memory hint

Think of 'clerk' as someone who 'clears' and organizes things.

Collocations

  • bookstore
  • grocery
  • sales
  • bookstore
  • grocery
  • sales
  • chief
  • senior
  • assistant
  • clerk to
  • the office of clerk
  • the post of clerk
  • chief
  • senior
  • assistant
  • clerk to
  • the office of clerk
  • the post of clerk

Synonyms

  • assistant
  • employee
  • worker
  • representative
  • salesperson

Antonyms

  • customer
  • client

Common mistakes

  • Confused with 'clark', which is a surname.
  • Using it to refer to very high-level professionals like managers.
  • Omitting the context, such as 'store clerk' or 'office clerk'.