lackey

1 of 2

noun

lack·​ey ˈla-kē 

plural lackeys

1

a

: footman sense 2, servant

b

: someone who does menial tasks or runs errands for another

2

: a servile follower : toady

lackey

2 of 2

verb

lackeyed; lackeying

intransitive verb

archaic : to serve as a lackey : toady

transitive verb

: to wait upon or serve obsequiously

Synonyms of lackey

Noun

• servant

Examples of lackey in a Sentence

Noun

He was nothing but a spineless lackey of the establishment.

a celebrity surrounded by his lackeys

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

To keep their gang leader boss from being convicted of murder, a pair of his lackeys went on social media to intimidate a witness, threatening to kill his kindergarten son at his school, federal authorities said Wednesday. —Leonard Greene, New York Daily News, 18 Feb. 2026

Trump and his lackeys do their best to disrupt free and fair elections, abrogate freedom of speech and curtail press freedom. —Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 17 Feb. 2026

Kelly’s lackeys dropped off meals, often delivered with a specific code knock on the door. —Cheyenne Roundtree, Rolling Stone, 31 Jan. 2026

Government institutions run by lackeys are also more easily manipulated by autocratic leaders, and no longer serve the public interest. —Anne Applebaum, The Atlantic, 30 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle French laquais

First Known Use

Noun

1523, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1568, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Rhymes for lackey

• bacchae
• jacky
• tacky
• wacky

Kids Definition

lackey

noun

lack·​ey

ˈlak-ē

plural lackeys

1

: footman sense 2

2

: an overly respectful follower : toady