flunky

noun flun·ky \ ˈfləŋ-kē \

variants: or less commonly flunkey or flunkie

Updated on: 26 Apr 2018

Definition of flunky

plural flunkies also flunkeys

1 a : a liveried servant

b : one performing menial or miscellaneous duties

2 : yes-man

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Examples of flunky in a Sentence

If he can't go himself, he'll send one of his flunkies.
since I'm just the flunky who files his papers, I've no idea where he is

Recent Examples of flunky from the Web

But some flunky in the AG’s office decided to do to me what Seamus the Irish Setter used to do to the roof of Mitt Romney’s car.

— kevin cullen, BostonGlobe.com, "Charlie Austin was the nicest guy in a competitive business," 11 Apr. 2018
That’s what some of Rahm's flunkies at the Chicago Public Schools did a few years back when Joanna Brown, a Logan Square activist, asked for public documents about a school closing.

— ben joravsky, Chicago Reader, "News / Politics After veteran's home cover-up, is Rauner the state's most secretive schmuck?," 6 Apr. 2018
Of the many ways in which Trump has asked his various flunkies to debase themselves for his benefit, having a lawyer borrow against his own home might be the most hilarious.

— jay willis, GQ, "Donald Trump and His Lawyers Are Bungling the Stormy Daniels Story in Spectacular Fashion," 12 Mar. 2018
Watch the hatred and unfairness of this CNN flunky!

— daniella silva, NBC News, "Stephen Miller slams ‘Fire and Fury’ as ‘grotesque work of fiction’ in tense interview," 7 Jan. 2018
Watch the hatred and unfairness of this CNN flunky!

— mitchell peters, Billboard, "Fred Durst Makes Impassioned Plea to Trump: 'Stop This Manipulation'," 7 Jan. 2018
Nixon’s flunkies, like Trump’s, wielded intimidation along with bluster against the press.

— The Hive, "New York Not Impressed By Rahm Emanuel’s Gloating," 5 July 2017
The account’s short disappearance and then reappearance had many, including those in our very own Kinja comment section, wondering whether the account disappeared so that tweets that incriminate the dotard in chief or his flunkies could be deleted.

— monique judge, The Root, "Donald Trump’s Twitter Account Was Deactivated 'Inadvertently' By a Twitter Employee For 11 Minutes," 2 Nov. 2017
All the while, Brenner and his flunkies are hot on Eleven's tail, doing their best to contain this situation at all costs.

— josh wigler, The Hollywood Reporter, "'Stranger Things': 11 Things to Know Before Season 2," 23 Oct. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'flunky.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of flunky

Scots, of unknown origin

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: circa 1782

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

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FLUNKY Defined for English Language Learners

flunky

noun

Definition of flunky for English Language Learners

: a person who does small jobs for someone powerful or important

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