cash register: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Neutral (common in both casual and business contexts)
Quick answer
What does “cash register” mean?
A mechanical or electronic device, typically found in shops and restaurants, used to record sales, calculate totals, and store money.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A mechanical or electronic device, typically found in shops and restaurants, used to record sales, calculate totals, and store money.
In a broader context, can refer to the point-of-sale system itself or the physical location in a store where transactions are processed. It can also metaphorically represent the core transactional aspect of a business.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In British English, 'till' is a very common, more colloquial synonym. In American English, 'cash register' is dominant, with 'till' being understood but less frequent.
Connotations
Both are neutral, but 'cash register' can sound slightly more formal/technical in the UK. 'Till' can sound more old-fashioned or quaint in the US.
Frequency
'Cash register' is used in both varieties but is significantly more common in American English. In the UK, 'till' and 'cash register' are both widely used, with 'till' possibly more frequent in everyday speech.
Grammar
How to Use “cash register” in a Sentence
to work (verb) at the cash registerto stand (verb) by the cash registerto purchase (verb) something from the cash registerVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “cash register” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- She was asked to cash-register for the afternoon shift. (rare, informal)
adjective
British English
- The cash-register drawer was stuck. (hyphenated attributive use)
American English
- He heard the familiar cash register sound. (noun used attributively)
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in retail management, accounting, and operations to refer to the equipment for processing transactions and securing cash.
Academic
Rare; might appear in historical, sociological, or business studies discussing retail technology or labour.
Everyday
Common in shopping contexts: 'Please pay at the cash register.'
Technical
Specific to retail hardware; may be distinguished from 'POS system' which encompasses software and connected peripherals.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “cash register”
- Incorrect: 'Pay in the cash register.' Correct: 'Pay at the cash register.'
- Incorrect: 'He is a cash register.' (for cashier). Correct: 'He works the cash register.' / 'He is a cashier.'
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Traditionally, a cash register is a standalone device for recording sales and holding cash. A POS (Point of Sale) system is a more comprehensive, often computer-based solution that integrates the cash register function with inventory, customer data, and analytics.
Essentially, yes. 'Till' is the common British English term, while 'cash register' is used in both varieties but is the standard term in American English. Both refer to the same piece of equipment.
Very rarely and informally. The standard verb is 'to work (at) the cash register' or 'to operate the cash register'. The job title is 'cashier'.
It originates from the loud 'cha-ching' bell sound that old mechanical cash registers made when a sale was completed (the drawer opened), signalling that the transaction was 'rung up' or recorded.
A mechanical or electronic device, typically found in shops and restaurants, used to record sales, calculate totals, and store money.
Cash register: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkæʃ ˌredʒ.ɪ.stər/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkæʃ ˌredʒ.ə.stɚ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Ring it up! (instruction to process a sale)”
- “On the till (UK: working at the cash register)”
- “The cash register is ringing (business is doing well, making sales)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of CASH + REGISTER (to record). It's the machine that REGISTERS (records) your CASH payment.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE HEART OF COMMERCE (as it is the central point where money flows in a transaction).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is a primary function of a cash register?