French word

préposé

Pronunciation

IPA/pʁepoze/

Meaning

  • masculine nounclerk

Example

Le préposé au guichet nous a aidés.

The clerk at the counter helped us.

Illustration for préposé (clerk)

More examples

Le préposé au service client nous a expliqué la procédure.

The customer service representative explained the procedure to us.

Core concept

A named worker stationed where a specific public task is carried out.

Similar words

employé: An employee hired by a company or store for routine work.
agent: An official handling a specific task for a public body or company.
réceptionniste: A receptionist who deals with visitors and telephone calls.
guichetier: A counter clerk who assists visitors and accepts applications.

Definition in French

Personne désignée pour s'occuper d'un poste ou d'une tâche précise, souvent dans un service ou à un guichet.

Word origin

French formed préposé from préposer, whose Latin source praeponere combines the ideas of placing before and assigning responsibility.

Usage tips

  • Préposé is more formal than everyday terms such as employé and often appears in official or institutional settings.

Other meanings

  • person in chargenoun
  • employeenoun

Word lists with this word