public servant

noun

: a government official or employee

Examples of public servant in a Sentence

the new governor vowed that he would always remember why he was called a public servant and not the people's master concerned that the new federal agency would just add another slew of public servants to the government payroll
Recent Examples on the Web Stapleton is a longtime public servant who worked in the city's youth and recreation departments in the 1990s during the administration of former Mayor Dennis Archer. Detroit Free Press, 29 Feb. 2024 Like two boys pushing another boy into the restroom before gunshots ring out from inside. To be a public servant in America is to contend with a fair amount of trauma. Lisa Bubert, Longreads, 27 Feb. 2024 Afterward, a long line of admirers gathered for pictures, treating him more like a celebrity than a public servant. Dexter Filkins, The New Yorker, 19 Feb. 2024 Elwood & Mary Black Park 4241 Fairview Terrace Elwood Black was a public servant, community activist, and advocate for union labor and civil rights issues. The Indianapolis Star, 1 Feb. 2024 Opposition figures publicly accused the king of buying 19 Rolls Royces and 120 BMWs for his large family, while public servants protested for better pay. John Eligon Joao Silva, New York Times, 17 Feb. 2024 The death of long-time public servant J. Michael Brown in mid-January created an unexpected vacancy in the Simmons College seat. Matthew Glowicki, The Courier-Journal, 5 Feb. 2024 Such a longstanding public servant gives an enormous amount of themselves to their community - as do their families. CBS News, 26 Jan. 2024 Jeremiah Espinoza-Young, 30, was arrested on charges of attempting to influence a public servant, false reporting to authorities, leaving the scene after striking unattended property and careless driving, according to the affidavit. Lauren Penington, The Denver Post, 26 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'public servant.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1671, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of public servant was in 1671

Dictionary Entries Near public servant

Cite this Entry

“Public servant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/public%20servant. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

public servant

noun
: a governmental official or employee
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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