# clerk

/ˈkɫɝk/ (US) · /klˈɑːk/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/clerk
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. office worker

noun · CEFR B1

a person who works in an office, keeping records and dealing with documents.

For teachers: an employee who performs administrative tasks, such as record-keeping, filing, and general office correspondence.

- The town clerk filed the marriage certificate in the official records.
- The court clerk was responsible for managing the judge's schedule and ensuring all legal documents were filed before the hearing began.

### 2. shop assistant

noun · CEFR B1 · American English

a person who serves customers in a shop or hotel.

For teachers: a retail or hospitality worker responsible for sales, customer service, and basic financial transactions.

- The hotel clerk gave us our room keys and a map of the city.
- The sales clerk at the department store helped the customer find a suit that fit perfectly for the interview.

### 3. to record patient details

verb · CEFR C1 · British English · Technical

to write down a patient's medical history and details when they first arrive at a hospital.

For teachers: to perform the initial assessment and documentation of a patient, including taking a medical history and physical examination.

- The junior doctor had to clerk five new patients before the end of his shift.
- The surgical intern spent the evening clerking patients scheduled for elective procedures the following morning.

Usage: The verb is transitive and takes the patient as the direct object.

### 4. to work as an assistant

verb · CEFR C1 · American English · Formal

to work as a clerk, especially for a judge or in a government office.

For teachers: to serve as a clerk, particularly in a legal or judicial capacity to assist with research and drafting.

- After finishing law school, she went to clerk for a Supreme Court justice.
- Clerking for a federal judge is considered a prestigious opportunity for recent law school graduates seeking to refine their legal research skills.

## Examples

- The hospital clerk checks my insurance card at the front desk.
- After the doctor finished the examination, the ward clerk updated the patient's digital records and scheduled a follow-up scan.
- While the medical staff focuses on clinical outcomes, the administrative clerk ensures that every diagnostic report is correctly filed and accessible for future consultations.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.