Cashier Vocabulary
This page lists words and phrases that cashiers need to know in an English-speaking setting. Each word is shown with its contextual meaning and an example sentence.
After reviewing this vocabulary, you may like to try our cashier vocabulary quiz.
| word | meaning |
|---|---|
| action code | a number cashiers type on the register to tell the computer to do something (#2A=void item) |
| adjustment | a change (usually related to price change) |
| age restricted items | products such as alcohol, tobacco, and restricted movies and videos which cannot be purchased by minors |
| aisles | long narrow areas that a room is divided into |
| associate | another employee who works with you |
| bag verb | to place purchased items in a bag for the customer |
| bank card | a card that allows customers to purchase an item using money from their bank account (also called debit card) |
| bar code | a series of lines that a computer reads to determine the product and price |
| bill | the total amount owed by the customer (also called receipt) |
| break | a short time for an employee to take a rest from work |
| bulk | items that are purchased in large amounts (also refers to items where customer collects the amount desired from a large bin) |
| cash | paper or coin money that the customer gives for payment |
| cash advance | money given to an employee or customer that he will have to pay back later |
| cash register | system used to key in purchases; also makes mathematical calculations and records payments |
| change | the money you give back to a customer |
| charge verb | to request a certain payment (They charge fifty dollars an hour.) |
| charge verb and noun | to pay (payment) with a credit card |
| checkout | the place where customers go to pay for purchases |
| clerk | person who serves customers; usually stands behind a desk |
| coins | small amounts of money; circular shape (also called change) |
| company procedures | the rules and practices outlined by the employer for the employees |
| competition | other businesses that offer similar products or services |
| counterfeit | money that looks real but is actually fake |
| coupon | a piece of paper that offers a set discount on a product or service |
| consumer | the person who buys and uses the products and services |
| coupon | a piece of paper that offers a set discount on a product or service |
| currency | type of money used in each country (eg. dollar, yen) |
| customer | the person who buys the product or service |
| customer service | fulfilling the needs of the people who buy products or services |
| damaged; defective | does not work or does not look new |
| deactivate | remove security device |
| debit | to take money out (also refers to paying with a bank card) |
| denomination | related to type of currency (eg. ones, tens, fifties ) |
| department store | a store that sells a wide variety of personal and household needs, such as groceries, furniture and clothing |
| discount | a price reduction |
| estimate | guess the right amount |
| float | the amount of money in a cash register or till before and after a person's shift |
| feed | to insert the end of a roll of paper into a slot |
| gift certificate; gift card | a pre-paid card that a customer uses to pay for purchases |
| gift receipt | a receipt that documents a purchase but does not include the price of the product |
| identification | photograph and official document that proves who a person is |
| initials | first letter of a person's first and last name |
| inquiry | a question |
| key in | to type a code into a cash register |
| (put on) layaway | to put a product away for a customer who will come back to purchase it at a later time |
| log | a record of sales information |
| manual | instruction booklet |
| merchandise | things that customers buy |
| multiple item | a product that a customer is buying more than one of (eg. five balls) |
| multitask | do many things at once |
| NOF | an error code that means a product price is not on file |
| on sale | costs less than usual |
| orientation | a time for learning about the company and job |
| peak time | the busy time of the day |
| perk | a little bonus that employees enjoy on top of their wage or salary (eg. restaurant employees get free lunch) |
| personal check | a written document that allows a business to retrieve funds from a customer's bank account |
| price override | change the automated price of a product or service |
| POS system | Point of Sale system (cash register) |
| price tag | the sticker or ticket that tells customers what a product costs |
| produce | fresh fruit and vegetables |
| promotion | a special discount or offer |
| prompt service | to help customers quickly |
| punch in/out | record the start and end time of your shift using a time clock system |
| rain check | a ticket given to a customer that allows them to receive an out-of-stock item or attend a cancelled event at a later date |
| receipt | a piece of paper that records the place, time, and price of items or services purchased |
| reduce(d) | price is less than usual |
| refund | get money back |
| register area | the place where a cashier stands and serves the customer |
| register tape | the paper that goes into the cash register and provides a printed record of all transactions |
| retailer | a store or business that sells products for the manufacturer |
| ring in | type the product code or service item into the POS |
| safe | a secure cabinet where a large amount of money is locked up; requires a code or key to open |
| sale | a price reduction |
| scan | pass a product over a laser (scanner reads the bar code and transfers the data (price, product name) to the POS system) |
| schedule | a table that identifies the weekly or monthly shifts for each employee |
| security device | a device attached to products that will set off an alarm if it is not removed by the cashier |
| serial number | a number system used to identify products and services |
| shelves | long rows of flat wood or metal used to hold products that are for sale in a store |
| shift report | a record of notes that must be handed in by a cashier at the end of a work shift |
| sign in/sign off | indicate that one is starting or finishing |
| supplies | things that are needed to do a job (eg. calculator, pens, paper) |
| supplier | the company or business that provides a retailer or wholesaler with products to sell |
| swipe | slide quickly across (eg. Swipe your credit card through the card reader, please.) |
| tally | add up |
| tax exempt | a special case in which the customer does not have to pay taxes |
| tender | money |
| terminal | a single computer or POS system |
| till | the drawer that holds money in a cash register |
| transaction | the sale and purchase of a product or service |
| UPC | Universal Product Code: a number the identifies the product and the retailer |
| void | cancel a transaction |
| wholesale | the sale of a large quantity of goods to a retail outlet |
| workstation | the area where a cashier works |