teller
/ˈtelə(r)/ (bre, ipa) · [tˈɛlɚ] /ˈtelər/ (ame, ipa) · [tˈɛlɚ] /ˈte-lər/ (ame, mw)
teller — noun
- tellersingular
- tellersplural
1. Someone whose job is at a bank counter to handle customer deposits, withdrawals,
Someone whose job is at a bank counter to handle customer deposits, withdrawals, and check cashing in person.
Allison worked as a bank teller for six years before becoming a loan officer.
countable noun: a bank teller
The bank installed new machines so customers could deposit cash without a teller.
teller vs. ATM distinction
Tamar counted her cash twice before handing it to the teller at the window.
Every Friday afternoon a long line formed in front of the only open teller counter.
- cashier
More common in shops and supermarkets; in the US, 'teller' is the standard word for a bank employee, while 'cashier' is used for retail.
- bank clerk
A broader term that includes non-customer-facing administrative roles inside a bank.
用法筆記
Often appears in the compound noun phrase 'bank teller'. In American English, 'teller' alone is understood as a bank worker in everyday contexts.
常見錯誤
2. An official who tallies the ballots cast during an election or formal vote to ma
An official who tallies the ballots cast during an election or formal vote to make sure the result is fair and accurate.
Each candidate sent a representative to observe the tellers as they counted the ballots.
countable noun: tellers + verb + ballots
The election officials trained twenty tellers to handle the vote count at the city hall.
Amani served as a teller during the union election and checked every ballot for accuracy.
Observers watched the tellers closely to confirm that no votes were counted twice.
- vote counter
A descriptive phrase rather than an official title; 'teller' is the formal term in parliamentary procedure.
- scrutineer
Used in British and Commonwealth English; a scrutineer oversees the fairness of the process rather than personally counting.
用法筆記
This sense is mostly used in formal political contexts such as parliamentary elections or shareholder votes. Less common in everyday conversation.
3. Someone who shares amusing accounts, fictional tales, or jokes — generally in a
Someone who shares amusing accounts, fictional tales, or jokes — generally in a lively or entertaining way.
Mira is a wonderful teller of folk tales and always keeps the children spellbound.
teller of + [type of story]
Grandpa was the best joke teller and everyone laughed until their sides hurt.
Liang told ghost stories around the campfire and made everyone shiver.
The old fisherman was a wonderful teller of sea tales passed down through generations.
- storyteller
The more common one-word form covering both oral and written narratives.
- narrator
Refers to someone who tells a story in a specific work (e.g., a novel or film), not a general ability.
- raconteur
A more formal or literary term for someone who tells anecdotes in an entertaining way.
用法筆記
Often modified by what is told: 'story teller', 'joke teller', 'teller of tales'. In modern English, 'storyteller' (one word) is more common than the two-word 'story teller'.