butler

noun

but·​ler ˈbət-lər 

1

: a manservant having charge of the wines and liquors

2

: the chief male servant of a household who has charge of other employees, receives guests, directs the serving of meals, and performs various personal services

Examples of butler in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The Presidential suite overlooks Hyde Park with a spacious layout that includes a dining room with a butler’s pantry. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 27 May 2026

Passengers have access to a dedicated 24-hour butler who manages everything from in-suite bar curation to private off-train excursions, such as sunrise helicopter tours over the MacDonnell Ranges or private dinners under the stars at Uluru. —Rebecca Ann Hughes, Forbes.com, 27 May 2026

Last year, Midea Group showcased a humanoid butler robot prototype capable of voice interaction, handshakes, gestures, dancing, and basic tool-use tasks. —Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 25 May 2026

According to former butler Grant Harrold, the Windsors are usually busy on those long weekends. —Hannah Malach, InStyle, 21 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English buteler, from Anglo-French butiller, from Old French botele bottle — more at bottle

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing butler

• butler's pantry
• silent butler

Rhymes for butler

• cutler
• sutler

Kids Definition

butler

noun

but·​ler ˈbət-lər 

: a chief male household servant

Etymology

Middle English buteler "household servant in charge of wines," from early French butiller (same meaning), from botele "bottle," derived from Latin buttis "cask"

Biographical Definition

Butler 1 of 5

biographical name (1)

But·​ler ˈbət-lər 

Benjamin Franklin 1818–1893 American general and politician

Butler

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biographical name (2)

Joseph 1692–1752 English theologian

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biographical name (3)

Nicholas Murray 1862–1947 American educator; president Columbia University (1901–45)

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biographical name (4)

Samuel 1612–1680 English satirical poet

Butler

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biographical name (5)

Samuel 1835–1902 English novelist and satirist