clerk
gb/klˈɚk/ us/klˈɚk/
B1
English
~ 5500
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B1
entity
1
office or administrative worker
A person who works in an office and does simple work like writing letters, keeping records, or filing papers.
Usage pattern:
a clerk in [an office / a department]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes think a clerk is always a person in a store. In many varieties of English, especially British English, a clerk is mainly an office or administrative worker. Also, do not confuse 'clerk' with 'clergy' or 'cleric', which refer to religious workers.
Synonyms
administrative assistant (Often sounds slightly higher-level or more modern; can suggest more responsibility than a basic clerk.)
Antonyms
manager (A manager supervises and makes decisions, while a clerk usually does routine tasks and follows instructions.)
Collocations
office clerk
|bank clerk
|junior clerk
|filing clerk
|government clerk
|administrative clerk
Themes
business
|work
|government
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The new clerk entered all the customer details into the company database.
- As a court clerk, she prepares case files and records everything that is said during the hearings.
- The bank clerk helped me open a savings account and filled out the forms.
- Our office clerk is responsible for distributing the mail every morning.
- He started as a filing clerk and later became the head of the department.
Learner examples
- The clerk works in a small office at the front of the building.
- A clerk at the bank checked my passport and printed my new card.
- The court clerk wrote down what the witness said.
- My sister is a clerk in a government office.
- The clerk keeps all the papers in order.
Noun
B1
entity
2
salesperson in a store
In American English, a person who works in a shop or store, helps customers, and takes their money when they buy something.
Usage pattern:
a clerk at [a store / the counter]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use 'clerk' for store workers in British English, where 'shop assistant' or 'sales assistant' is more common. Also, some learners confuse 'clerk' with 'cashier'; a cashier mainly takes payments, while a clerk may help with many store tasks.
Synonyms
salesperson (A more general term; can be used for people selling products in many places, not only in stores.)
Antonyms
customer (The customer is the person buying, while the clerk is the person serving and selling.)
Collocations
store clerk
|sales clerk
|front-desk clerk
|hotel clerk
|cashier clerk
|counter clerk
Themes
shopping
|business
|daily life
|daily_life
|work
Examples
- The clerk behind the counter asked if I needed help finding anything.
- I asked the store clerk if they had this shirt in a larger size.
- The sales clerk scanned my items and told me the total.
- A friendly hotel clerk checked us in and gave us our room keys.
- The front-desk clerk said the manager would be back in ten minutes.
Learner examples
- The clerk in the store showed me where the milk was.
- A clerk at the hotel gave us the key to our room.
- The sales clerk took my money and gave me a receipt.
- I asked the clerk, “How much does this phone cost?”
- The clerk at the front desk called a taxi for us.
Verb
B2
action
3
work in a job as a clerk
To work in a job as a clerk in an office or store.
Usage pattern:
to clerk at [a place] / to clerk in [a place]
Common mistake:
Learners may not realize that 'clerk' can be used as a verb in English, especially in North America. In many contexts, it is more natural to say 'work at a store' or 'work in an office', but 'clerk at/in' is common in some regions.
Synonyms
work (A very general verb for having a job; 'clerk' is specific to working as a clerk.)
Antonyms
quit (To leave or stop the job, which is the opposite of working as a clerk.)
Collocations
clerk at a supermarket
|clerk in a law firm
|clerk in a store
|clerk at the front desk
|clerk in an office
Themes
work
|business
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- She clerked at a supermarket during the summer to save money for college.
- He clerked in a small law office before starting law school.
- I clerked at the front desk of a hostel when I lived abroad.
- Before becoming a teacher, she clerked in a government office for two years.
- During his twenties, he clerked in several different retail stores.
Learner examples
- My brother clerked in a clothing store last year.
- She clerked at a hotel before she found a full-time job.
- When I was a student, I clerked in a bank on weekends.
- He clerked in a small office after he moved to the city.
- I clerked at the front desk for three months.
Verb
technical
C1
action
4
work as a law clerk for a judge
To work as a special legal assistant for a judge, helping with research and writing.
Usage pattern:
to clerk for [a judge / a court]
Common mistake:
Learners may think 'clerk for a judge' means doing simple office work, but this role is a professional legal position that involves complex research and writing. It is not the same as a regular office clerk.
Synonyms
intern (A more general word for someone in a temporary training position; does not necessarily imply legal or judicial work.)
Antonyms
preside (A judge presides over a court, leading it, while a law clerk assists; they are opposite roles in terms of authority in the courtroom context.)
Collocations
clerk for a judge
|clerk for the Supreme Court
|clerk for Justice [name]
|clerk on the court of appeals
|clerk for the chief justice
Themes
law
|work
|education
Examples
- After graduating from law school, she clerked for a federal judge in New York.
- He hopes to clerk for the Supreme Court after finishing his degree.
- Many top law students aim to clerk for an appellate court before joining a law firm.
- She clerked for Justice Hall and then went on to teach constitutional law.
- Clerking for a judge gave him a deep understanding of how legal decisions are made.
Learner examples
- After law school, she clerked for a famous judge.
- He wants to clerk for the high court next year.
- Many young lawyers clerk for a judge to learn more.
- She clerked for a federal court before she became a lawyer.
- He was very proud to clerk for the chief justice.
Grammar
Dictionary form
clerk
IPA
GB/klˈɚk/
US/klˈɚk/
Syllables & stress
clerk (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (clerk)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: clerk
- Plural: clerks
Verb
- Base: clerk
- 3rd Person Singular: clerks
- Present Participle: clerking
- Past: clerked
Word family
Forms
clerks
noun
clerking
verb
clerked
verb
Core family
clerical
adjective B2
Advanced or less common
clerkship
noun
Expressions
bank clerk
1/bˈæŋk klˈɚk/
fixed phrase
clerk who works in a bank
A person who works in a bank, helping customers and doing simple financial office work.
Examples
- The bank clerk helped me transfer money to another account.
- He worked as a bank clerk before training to be a financial adviser.
city clerk
1/sˈɪti klˈɚk/
fixed phrase
official who keeps city records
A city government worker whose job is to keep official papers and records for the city.
Examples
- You can get a copy of your marriage license from the city clerk.
- The city clerk is responsible for keeping minutes of all council meetings.
court clerk
1/kˈɔɹt klˈɚk/
fixed phrase
administrative officer in a court
A person who works in a court and keeps records, files papers, and helps the judge and lawyers with documents.
Examples
- The court clerk read the charges aloud to the defendant.
- After the trial, the court clerk filed all the documents.
desk clerk
1/dˈɛsk klˈɚk/
fixed phrase
reception or service desk clerk
A person who works at the main desk in a hotel, motel, or similar building and helps visitors.
Examples
- The desk clerk told us breakfast was served from seven to ten.
- She got a job as a desk clerk at a small motel.
front desk clerk
1/fɹˈʌnt dˈɛsk klˈɚk/
fixed phrase
reception clerk at a hotel
A person who works at the main desk in a hotel or similar place, greeting guests and helping them.
Examples
- The front desk clerk checked our reservation and gave us room keys.
- Please speak to the front desk clerk if you need extra towels.
hotel clerk
1/hoʊtˈɛl klˈɚk/
fixed phrase
reception clerk in a hotel
A person who works at the desk in a hotel, checking guests in and out and answering questions.
Examples
- The hotel clerk told us that check-out was at noon.
- I gave my passport to the hotel clerk when I arrived.
law clerk
1/lˈɔ klˈɚk/
fixed phrase
technical
legally trained assistant to judge
A person with legal training who helps a judge or lawyers by doing research and writing legal documents.
Examples
- She worked as a law clerk at the court of appeals.
- Many law students hope to become a law clerk for a high-level judge.
parish clerk
1/pˈɛɹɪʃ klˈɚk/
fixed phrase
clerk for a church parish
A person who keeps records and helps with office work for a church parish or local church community.
Examples
- The parish clerk keeps the baptism and marriage records for the church.
- She spoke to the parish clerk about booking the church hall.
sales clerk
1/sˈeɪlz klˈɚk/
fixed phrase
clerk who sells goods
A person in a store whose job is to sell things to customers.
Examples
- The sales clerk offered to gift-wrap the present.
- I asked the sales clerk if the shoes were on sale.
store clerk
1/stˈɔɹ klˈɚk/
fixed phrase
clerk who works in a store
A person who works in a shop or store, helping customers and taking payments.
Examples
- The store clerk showed me three different kinds of batteries.
- As a store clerk, she spends most of her day talking to customers.