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

• steward
• maid
• housekeeper
• butler
• flunkey
• lackey

Examples of servant in a Sentence

the wealthy family had servants to clean and cook for them

Recent Examples on the Web

The Forty Steps, located at the end of Narragansett Avenue a half mile north of the Breakers, was a popular meeting spot for Gilded Age domestics, especially Irish servants, who gathered there to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. —AFAR Media, 3 July 2025

Ironically, to be the servant of all requires enormous independence. —Jim Rigby, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025

The couple had 10 children, including Peter Fossett, who was an enslaved house servant. —Jeff Suess, The Enquirer, 2 July 2025

At fourteen she’s already employed as a servant, and at fifteen leaves Virginia to work as a cook for a family in Washington, DC. —John Birdsall june 20, Literary Hub, 20 June 2025

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

Rhymes for servant

• fervent
• maidservant
• manservant
• observant

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