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Clerk vs Officer - What's the difference?

clerk | officer |

As nouns the difference between clerk and officer

is that clerk is one who occupationally works with records, accounts, letters, etc.; an office worker while officer is (one who has a position of authority in a hierarchical organization)One who has a position of authority in a hierarchical organization, especially in military, police or government organizations.

As verbs the difference between clerk and officer

is that clerk is to act as a clerk, to perform the duties or functions of a clerk while officer is to supply with officers.

clerk

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • One who occupationally works with records, accounts, letters, etc.; an office worker.
  • *
  • *:Thus, when he drew up instructions in lawyer language, he expressed the important words by an initial, a medial, or a final consonant, and made scratches for all the words between; his clerks , however, understood him very well.
  • A facilitator of a Quaker meeting for business affairs.
  • (lb) In the Church of England, the layman that assists in the church service, especially in reading the responses (also called parish clerk ).
  • *1595 , (William Shakespeare), ,
  • *:God save the King! Will no man say, amen? / Am I both priest and clerk ? Well then, amen.
  • Verb

    (en verb)
  • To act as a clerk, to perform the duties or functions of a clerk
  • The law school graduate clerked for the supreme court judge for the summer.

    officer

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (senseid)One who has a position of authority in a hierarchical organization, especially in military, police or government organizations.
  • * , chapter=19
  • , title= The Mirror and the Lamp , passage=Nothing was too small to receive attention, if a supervising eye could suggest improvements likely to conduce to the common welfare. Mr. Gordon Burnage, for instance, personally visited dust-bins and back premises, accompanied by a sort of village bailiff, going his round like a commanding officer doing billets.}}
  • (senseid)One who holds a public office.
  • (senseid)An agent or servant imparted with the ability, to some degree, to act on initiative.
  • (senseid)(colloquial, military) A commissioned officer.
  • Derived terms

    * non-commissioned officer

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To supply with officers .
  • To command like an officer .
  • Synonyms

    * direct * conduct * manage