Meaning & use
salesclerk
Last updated
UK/ˈseɪlzklɑːk/
US/ˈseɪlzklɝːk/
Meaning
nouncountableAmerican
A person who works in a shop helping customers and handling their purchases.
Grammar: Takes a plural: a salesclerk, two salesclerks.
Patterns
- work as a salesclerk
- ask a salesclerk
The salesclerk wrapped the gift and handed me the receipt.
She worked as a salesclerk in a department store during college.
I asked a salesclerk where the shoes were.
Word forms
| plural | salesclerks |
|---|
Common combinations
- store salesclerk
- A store salesclerk helped me find the right size.
- ask the salesclerk
- If you cannot find it, ask the salesclerk.
- salesclerk job
- He got a salesclerk job at the mall.
- friendly salesclerk
- The friendly salesclerk gave us some tips.
- part-time salesclerk
- She is a part-time salesclerk on weekends.
Synonyms and how they differ
- shop assistant
- Shop assistant is the British equivalent, with the same meaning.
- cashier
- Cashier focuses on taking payment, while salesclerk also helps customers choose items.
- salesperson
- Salesperson is neutral about gender and may imply more selling than a clerk does.
- retail assistant
- Retail assistant is a general job-title term, more formal than salesclerk.
Opposites
Word family
- clerk noun
- an office or shop worker who handles records or sales
- sales noun
- the selling of goods
- salesman noun
- a man who sells products
- salesperson noun
- a person who sells
Commonly confused: salesclerk or sales representative?
salesclerk vs sales representative
A sales representative sells to businesses or travels to customers, unlike a salesclerk in a store.
Practice
In American English, a person who helps shoppers in a store is a ___.
Choose one answer.
Salesclerk is the American term. Shop assistant is British, and a sales rep usually travels to customers.
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