servant

noun

ser·​vant ˈsər-vənt 

: one that serves others

a public servant

especially : one that performs duties about the person or home of a master or personal employer

servanthood

ˈsər-vənt-ˌhu̇d 

noun

servantless adjective

Synonyms

• daily [British]
• domestic
• flunky
• flunkey
• flunkie
• lackey
• menial
• retainer
• steward

Examples of servant in a Sentence

the wealthy family had servants to clean and cook for them

Recent Examples on the Web

Emmerich the necromancer spends his time in graveyards talking to the dead and being attended to by his skeletal servant Manfred. —Kazuma Hashimoto, Them, 28 Oct. 2024

Initially introduced as the faithful servant of his master Nandor, Guillermo was later revealed to be descended from a famous family of vampire hunters, the Van Helsings. —Tracy Brown, Los Angeles Times, 28 Oct. 2024

Having long been the servant of Cristiano during his most successful years, this prize came as worthy recognition of one of Real Madrid’s greatest forwards in history. —Sam Leveridge, Forbes, 26 Oct. 2024

Goldfield has a field day as the jack-of-all-trades servant. —Karen D'souza, The Mercury News, 25 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English servant, sarvaunt "person serving a master or lord, retainer, attendant," borrowed from Anglo-French, noun derivative from past participle of servir "to be in attendance on, serve entry 1"

Note: Compare sergeant.

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing servant

• bond servant
• civil servant
• fellow servant
• indentured servant
• public servant

Kids Definition

servant

noun

ser·​vant ˈsər-vənt 

: one that serves others

especially : a person hired to perform household or personal services

Etymology

Middle English servant "servant," from early French servant (same meaning), from a form of servir "to serve," from Latin servire "to be a slave, serve," from servus "slave, servant" — related to serf

Legal Definition

servant

noun

ser·​vant

: a person who serves others: as

a

: an individual who performs duties about the person or home of a master or personal employer

b

: a person in the employ and subject to the direction or control of an individual or company see also respondeat superior compare agent, master