clerk

noun

\ˈklərk,

British usually ˈklärk

Definition of clerk

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : cleric

2 archaic : scholar

3a : 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

clerk

verb

clerked; clerking; clerks

Definition of clerk (Entry 2 of 2)

intransitive verb

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

Other Words from clerk Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about clerk

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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: Noun

Three others were elected in 2007, after receiving 11, 16 and 20 write-in votes, respectively, a spokesman for the county clerk said. — Zak Koeske, Daily Southtown, "For years, there's been no financial oversight at the Calumet Park library. Now the state is getting involved.," 13 July 2018 Both efforts have already been reviewed by county clerks across the state. — Nate Poppino, idahostatesman, "Medicaid supporters submit their signatures - and wait to hear if we'll vote this fall," 6 July 2018 Other contested races include those for clerk; auditor; recorder; coroner; commissioner, Center District; county council, 1st District; and county council, 3rd District. — Amy Lavalley, Post-Tribune, "State GOP error nixes Porter candidacy," 6 July 2018 Pureval is the Hamilton County clerk of courts, a role he's held since defeating big-name West Sider Tracy Winkler in 2016. — Jason Williams, Cincinnati.com, "PX column: See why Democrats' tax hike might hurt Aftab Pureval, help Steve Chabot," 21 June 2018 But in Georgia and Delaware, the courts issue the permits, and in Michigan, county clerks have the job. — Lawrence Mower, miamiherald, "Why does Florida's agriculture department handle gun permits? The NRA wants it to.," 12 June 2018 Chen and Rohla collected precinct-level polling data—the highest-resolution available—through internet scraping and by contacting secretaries of state, boards of election, and county clerks. — Robbie Gonzalez, WIRED, "The 'Thanksgiving Effect' and the Creepy Power of Phone Data," 31 May 2018 David Ermold lost the Democratic nomination for county clerk in Rowan County, Kentucky. — Nicole Gaudiano, USA TODAY, "Results rolling in from primary elections in Georgia, Kentucky, Arkansas and Texas," 22 May 2018 The Survey USA poll also asked voters about the lower-profile race for county assessor-recorder-clerk, which pits two-term incumbent Ernest Dronenburg Jr. against Matthew Strabone, an attorney. — John Wilkens, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Incumbents lead in county races, but many voters undecided, new poll shows," 14 May 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

More than 40 of his law clerks have later clerked on the Supreme Court, working for justices across the ideological divide. — Author: Greg Stohr And Andrew Harris, Anchorage Daily News, "Trump’s Supreme Court nominee is a Washington insider and regulation skeptic," 10 July 2018 The 53-year-old judge, who clerked for Justice Kennedy, arrives with a stellar reputation among conservatives, and gives Republicans the potential to change the balance of the court for years to come, reports CBS News' Jan Crawford. — CBS News, "Brett Kavanaugh's views on presidential power could become focus with ongoing Russia probe," 10 July 2018 The White House repeated this tactic after Gorsuch was nominated, informing the media that the runners up were appellate judges Brett Kavanaugh and Raymond Kethledge, both of whom clerked for Kennedy as well. — Margaret Hartmann, Daily Intelligencer, "Trump’s Anthony Kennedy Strategy Was Calculated, With None of His Trademark Chaos," 29 June 2018 Raymond Kethledge Kethledge, a circuit judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, clerked for Kennedy on the U.S. Supreme Court. — Alex Pappas, Fox News, "Kennedy retirement kicks speculation over Supreme Court replacement into high gear," 27 June 2018 Kavanaugh clerked for Anthony Kennedy and reportedly remains close to the justice. — Abigail Simon, Time, "President Trump Picked Brett Kavanaugh for the Supreme Court. Who Is He?," 10 July 2018 Judge Kethledge also clerked for Justice Kennedy, and has the support of some conservative activists. — New York Times, "Trump Interviews 4 Supreme Court Prospects in Rush to Name Replacement," 2 July 2018 Kavanaugh, a Yale Law School graduate who clerked for retiring Justice Anthony Kennedy, once worked under former President George W. Bush. — Kathryn Watson, CBS News, "Reactions to Trump's decision to nominate Brett Kavanaugh — live updates," 9 July 2018 Kavanaugh, who clerked for Kennedy, is a judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. — Debbie Lord, ajc, "Who is Brett Kavanaugh, Trump’s nominee to the U.S. Supreme Court?," 9 July 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'clerk.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

History and Etymology for clerk

Noun

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

Verb

see clerk entry 1

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Dictionary Entries near clerk

Statistics for clerk

Last Updated

13 Oct 2018

Look-up Popularity

Time Traveler for clerk

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

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More Definitions for clerk

clerk

noun

English Language Learners Definition of clerk

(Entry 1 of 2)

: a person whose job is to keep track of records and documents for a business or office

: an elected or appointed official whose job is to take care of official papers and business for a court or government

: a person who works in a store

clerk

verb

English Language Learners Definition of clerk (Entry 2 of 2)

: to work as a clerk

See the full definition for clerk in the English Language Learners Dictionary

clerk

noun

\ˈklərk

Kids Definition of clerk

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : a person whose job is to keep records or accounts

2 : a salesperson in a store

clerk

verb

clerked; clerking

Kids Definition of clerk (Entry 2 of 2)

: to act or work as a clerk

clerk

noun

\ˈklərk

Medical Definition of clerk

: a third- or fourth-year medical student undergoing clinical training in a clerkship

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clerk

noun

Legal Definition of clerk

(Entry 1 of 2)

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

2a : 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