henchman

noun

hench·man ˈhench-mən

plural henchmen

Synonyms of henchman next

: a trusted follower : a right-hand man

: a political follower whose support is chiefly for personal advantage

: a member of a gang

obsolete : a squire or page to a person of high rank

Did you know?

The earliest known examples of henchman show it being used as a term for a squire or a page, but the word may have seen earlier use with the meaning "groom." It first appeared in Middle English and is a combination of Old English hengest ("a male horse") and man. One of the duties of a groom, squire, or page to a person of high rank was tending horses, and such a person was relied upon, which influenced the broader senses of henchman including "right-hand man."

Examples of henchman in a Sentence

a gangster surrounded by his henchmen

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.

There’s this brawl out scene with the henchmen of Ivan’s Russian billionaire parents. —

Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times, 12 Dec. 2024 When Sam and Alex fail to arrive in Vegas on schedule, an enraged Charles and his hulking henchmen are forced to intervene. —

Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 12 Dec. 2024 This entry introduces Margaret’s evil cousin, Fiona, whose henchmen try to kidnap Margaret so that Fiona can pose as her and get crowned queen of Montenaro in her place. —

Laura Bradley, Vulture, 5 Dec. 2024 Whether Muncie is sitting at a dingy motel smoking a joint in a hoodie or running through the forest with henchmen in hot pursuit, Domingo is constantly lit and framed with a precision normally reserved for a Tom Cruise or the industry’s Timothée Chalamet of the Week. —

Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 28 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for henchman