clerk

1 of 2

noun

ˈklərk How to pronounce clerk (audio)
British usually
ˈklärk How to pronounce clerk (audio)
Synonyms of clerknext
1
: cleric
2
archaic : scholar
3
a
: an official responsible (as to a government agency) for correspondence, records, and accounts and vested with specified powers or authority (as to issue writs as ordered by a court)
city clerk
b
: one employed to keep records or accounts or to perform general office work
a bank clerk
c
: one who works at a sales or service counter
a store clerk
a grocery clerk
d
: a person (such as a law school graduate) who provides a judge, magistrate, or lawyer with assistance in such matters as research, writing, and analysis : law clerk
clerkship
ˈklərk-ˌship How to pronounce clerk (audio)
British usually ˈklärk-
noun

clerk

2 of 2

verb

clerked; clerking; clerks

intransitive verb

: to act or work as a clerk
clerked for a court judge

Synonyms of clerk

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Noun

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

Examples of clerk in a Sentence

Noun Have the court clerk file your request with the judge. He works as a clerk in a local pet store. a sales clerk at a women's clothing store
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
The two allegedly stole incoming cash and concealed the thefts by generating checks and forging the court clerk’s signature. — Nathan Pilling july 1, Kansas City Star, 1 July 2026 Attorneys for Karen Read, namely Alan Jackson, asked the clerk to go back into the judge's chambers to see if they could be heard. — Kristina Rex, CBS News, 1 July 2026
Verb
The first part of the hearing concerned former Colleton Court county clerk Becky Hill, who clerked during Murdaugh’s trial and later wrote a tell-all book about it. — Eric Levenson, CNN Money, 11 Feb. 2026 My first job in Law School was clerking in the AG’s office in the Prosecutor’s Assistance division. — Eleanor Dearman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for clerk

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Verb

Middle English, from Anglo-French clerk & Old English cleric, clerc, both from Late Latin clericus, from Late Greek klērikos, from Greek klēros lot, inheritance (in allusion to Deuteronomy 18:2), stick of wood; akin to Greek klan to break — more at clast

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1551, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of clerk was before the 12th century

Phrases Containing clerk

Rhymes for clerk

See All Rhymes for clerk

Browse Nearby Words

clerisy
clerk
clerkess
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Clerk.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/clerk. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

clerk

1 of 2 noun
ˈklərk How to pronounce clerk (audio)
1
: a person whose job is to keep records and accounts
town clerk
a stock clerk
2
: a salesperson in a store

clerk

2 of 2 verb
: to act or work as a clerk

Medical Definition

clerk

noun
ˈklərk How to pronounce clerk (audio)
: a third- or fourth-year medical student undergoing clinical training in a clerkship
clerk intransitive verb

Legal Definition

clerk

1 of 2 noun
1
: an official responsible (as to a court) for correspondence, records, and accounts and having specified powers or authority (as to issue writs)
a city clerk
clerk of court
2
a
: a person employed to keep records or accounts or to perform general office work
b
: a person (as a law student or graduate) employed by an attorney or judge to assist with case-related tasks (as research) compare paralegal
clerkship noun

clerk

2 of 2 intransitive verb
: to act or work as a clerk
clerked for a Supreme Court justice

More from Merriam-Webster on clerk

Nglish: Translation of clerk for Spanish Speakers

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