footman

noun

foot·​man ˈfu̇t-mən 

1

a

archaic : a traveler on foot : pedestrian

b

: infantryman

2

a

: a servant in livery formerly attending a rider or required to run in front of his master's carriage

b

: a servant who serves at table, tends the door, and runs errands

Examples of footman in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Bennett gained some experience at Buckingham Palace as a part-time footman (a lower-ranking role) before quitting the force. —Peter Rubin, Longreads, 17 Sep. 2024

My paternal grandmother’s side of the family has been in Chapel Hill since the 1700s, and her ancestor, November Caldwell, was the coachman and footman to the first president of UNC Chapel Hill. —Ruhama Wolle, Glamour, 5 Sep. 2024

However, he was best known for his roles in ITV’s Victoria as the royal family’s footman, Mr. Cornelius Penge, and in BBC Two and Netflix’s The Last Kingdom. —Brendan Le, Peoplemag, 4 Apr. 2024

What’s the solution for those of us who don’t have footmen to hold the food? —Mary Carol Garrity, Charlotte Observer, 31 Jan. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Kids Definition

footman

noun

foot·​man -mən 

1

: an infantry soldier

2

: a male servant who lets in visitors and waits on the table