retinue

noun

ret·​i·​nue ˈre-tə-ˌnü How to pronounce retinue (audio)
-ˌnyü
: a group of retainers or attendants

Did you know?

Retinue comes via Middle English from the Anglo-French verb retenir, meaning "to retain or keep in one's pay or service." Another retenir descendant is retainer, which has among its meanings "one who serves a person of high position or rank." In the 14th century, such retainers typically served a noble or royal of some kind, and retinue referred to a collection of retainers—that is, the noble's servants and companions. Nowadays, the word retinue is often used with a bit of exaggeration to refer to the assistants, guards, publicists, and other people who accompany a high-profile individual in public. You might also hear such a collection of folks called a suite or entourage, two other words that come from French.

Examples of retinue in a Sentence

the king and his retinue a pop star traveling with his retinue
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
With his entourage of ballers and video vixens, his retinue of security, his talent for curation, Puff was the ringmaster of relevancy, the pied piper of fun and the force at the very center of cultural power. Amy Dubois Barnett, The Hollywood Reporter, 4 Oct. 2024 The list of people’s stressors included arguments with a family member, work deadlines, an overload of home tasks and a retinue of ordinary daily hassles. Francine Russo, Scientific American, 5 Apr. 2023 For instance, Prince Charles (Emmy nominee Dominic West) seeks his family’s approval of his fiancée, Camilla Parker Bowles (Olivia Williams), even as his retinue encourages him to publicly tarnish his ex-wife, Diana. Chris Vognar, Los Angeles Times, 6 Aug. 2024 Entitled male predators, protection by a retinue of enablers, and silencing by payoff or litigation are still foundational to our national power structure. Nina Burleigh, Washington Post, 10 July 2024 See all Example Sentences for retinue 

Word History

Etymology

Middle English retenue, from Anglo-French, from feminine of retenu, past participle of retenir to retain

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of retinue was in the 14th century

Podcast

Dictionary Entries Near retinue

Cite this Entry

“Retinue.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/retinue. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

retinue

noun
ret·​i·​nue ˈret-ᵊn-ˌ(y)ü How to pronounce retinue (audio)
: a group of helpers, servants, or followers

More from Merriam-Webster on retinue

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!