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
clerked; clerking; clerks
: to act or work as a clerk
clerked for a court judge
Synonyms
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
Christi Carras, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2024
The Michigan Voter Information Center also contains information on finding your local clerk's office, your polling location and more.
—Arpan Lobo, Detroit Free Press, 16 Apr. 2024
For more information, email the city clerk’s office at cityclerk@cupertino.gov.
—Anne Gelhaus, The Mercury News, 14 Apr. 2024
Marrero, who used to work in the archives of the Venezuelan Congress in Caracas, found work selling telephones and then as a sales clerk at a convenience store owned by Venezuelan immigrants.
—Paul Wiseman, Fortune, 12 Apr. 2024
The clerk will then submit those signatures to the supervisor of elections for verification.
—Tess Riski, Miami Herald, 11 Apr. 2024
In his handwritten letters, Browne described his new job training as a clerk to a lawyer, Richard Rowlandson.
—Ella Feldman, Smithsonian Magazine, 11 Apr. 2024
Once the clerk confirmed, the couple immediately jumped in the car and drove to lottery headquarters in Lansing.
—Kate Linderman, Kansas City Star, 5 Apr. 2024
In Wisconsin, clerks cannot start processing absentee ballots until 7 a.m. on election day.
—Alison Dirr, Journal Sentinel, 5 Apr. 2024
Alicia Adamczyk, Fortune, 27 Mar. 2024
In the first season, Callie clerked for a conservative judge overseeing a police shooting involving the wrongful death of an unarmed Black man, while her roommate Malika (Zuri Adele) worked for a civil rights non-profit that was protesting outside the trial.
—Megan Vick, Variety, 6 Mar. 2024
The idea that Trump disqualified himself from a second term gained traction over the summer with a law review article by two conservative legal scholars − including one who clerked for Roberts.
—John Fritze, USA TODAY, 4 Jan. 2024
Justices don’t have to explain recusal decisions, but the fact that a plaintiff in the case, John Eastman, clerked for Justice Thomas in the mid-1990s could be a reason.
—Henry Gass, The Christian Science Monitor, 5 Oct. 2023
One of his first jobs was clerking — for $2 per 12-hour shift — at Buffett & Son, an upscale Omaha grocery run by Warren Buffett’s grandfather.
—Tom Petruno, Los Angeles Times, 28 Nov. 2023
Unlike many judges who follow a relatively predictable trajectory to the court -- law school followed by clerking, then years in private practice or in government service -- Engoron's path to the bench includes a seven-year detour as a professional musician and teacher.
—Peter Charalambous, ABC News, 2 Oct. 2023
Eastman clerked for Thomas on the Supreme Court, and emails obtained by the House panel showed that Ginni Thomas, the justice's wife, corresponded with the conservative lawyer.
—Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 2 Oct. 2023
More than sixty Blackstone alumni are currently clerking on federal courts, including eighteen on appeals courts.
—David D. Kirkpatrick, The New Yorker, 2 Oct. 2023
Noun
On Tuesday, a separate Disneyland Resort bargaining unit — made up of custodians, ride operators, candy makers, merchandise clerks and other employees — gathered in Anaheim to launch its 2024 contract campaign ahead of its first round of negotiations next week.
—Christi Carras, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2024
The Michigan Voter Information Center also contains information on finding your local clerk's office, your polling location and more.
—Arpan Lobo, Detroit Free Press, 16 Apr. 2024
For more information, email the city clerk’s office at cityclerk@cupertino.gov.
—Anne Gelhaus, The Mercury News, 14 Apr. 2024
Marrero, who used to work in the archives of the Venezuelan Congress in Caracas, found work selling telephones and then as a sales clerk at a convenience store owned by Venezuelan immigrants.
—Paul Wiseman, Fortune, 12 Apr. 2024
The clerk will then submit those signatures to the supervisor of elections for verification.
—Tess Riski, Miami Herald, 11 Apr. 2024
In his handwritten letters, Browne described his new job training as a clerk to a lawyer, Richard Rowlandson.
—Ella Feldman, Smithsonian Magazine, 11 Apr. 2024
Once the clerk confirmed, the couple immediately jumped in the car and drove to lottery headquarters in Lansing.
—Kate Linderman, Kansas City Star, 5 Apr. 2024
In Wisconsin, clerks cannot start processing absentee ballots until 7 a.m. on election day.
—Alison Dirr, Journal Sentinel, 5 Apr. 2024
Verb
While some of the conservative members of the court, including Justice Samuel Alito, seemed to straight-forwardly question the FDA’s authority, Chief Justice John Roberts—whom Hawley actually clerked for in the past—and Justice Neil Gorsuch questioned her on why a nationwide ban was appropriate.
—Alicia Adamczyk, Fortune, 27 Mar. 2024
In the first season, Callie clerked for a conservative judge overseeing a police shooting involving the wrongful death of an unarmed Black man, while her roommate Malika (Zuri Adele) worked for a civil rights non-profit that was protesting outside the trial.
—Megan Vick, Variety, 6 Mar. 2024
The idea that Trump disqualified himself from a second term gained traction over the summer with a law review article by two conservative legal scholars − including one who clerked for Roberts.
—John Fritze, USA TODAY, 4 Jan. 2024
Justices don’t have to explain recusal decisions, but the fact that a plaintiff in the case, John Eastman, clerked for Justice Thomas in the mid-1990s could be a reason.
—Henry Gass, The Christian Science Monitor, 5 Oct. 2023
One of his first jobs was clerking — for $2 per 12-hour shift — at Buffett & Son, an upscale Omaha grocery run by Warren Buffett’s grandfather.
—Tom Petruno, Los Angeles Times, 28 Nov. 2023
Unlike many judges who follow a relatively predictable trajectory to the court -- law school followed by clerking, then years in private practice or in government service -- Engoron's path to the bench includes a seven-year detour as a professional musician and teacher.
—Peter Charalambous, ABC News, 2 Oct. 2023
Eastman clerked for Thomas on the Supreme Court, and emails obtained by the House panel showed that Ginni Thomas, the justice's wife, corresponded with the conservative lawyer.
—Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 2 Oct. 2023
More than sixty Blackstone alumni are currently clerking on federal courts, including eighteen on appeals courts.
—David D. Kirkpatrick, The New Yorker, 2 Oct. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'clerk.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near clerk
Cite this Entry
“Clerk.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/clerk. Accessed 24 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
clerk
1 of 2 noun1
: 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
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