servant

noun ser·vant \ ˈsər-vənt \

Updated on: 13 May 2018

Definition of servant

: one that serves others

a public servant

; especially : one that performs duties about the person or home of a master or personal employer

—

servanthood

play \ˈsər-vənt-ˌhu̇d\ noun

—

servantless

adjective

See servant defined for English-language learners

See servant defined for kids

Examples of servant in a Sentence

the wealthy family had servants to clean and cook for them

Recent Examples of servant from the Web

Subsequent attempts to produce useful robotic servants in the U.S., Japan and China over the years have performed only marginally better.

— mark gurman and brad stone / bloomberg, Time, "Amazon's Next Secret Project Could Be Robots That Follow You Around," 23 Apr. 2018
The computer ceased to be a servant of human life and began to be the purpose for which that life is conducted.

— ian bogost, The Atlantic, "The Dot-Coms Were Better Than Facebook," 13 Apr. 2018
Pruitt, meanwhile, is a former state attorney general and an unfailingly loyal servant of the president’s agenda.

— eric levitz, Daily Intelligencer, "Trump Can’t Decide If Pruitt Is Too Corrupt to Lead the EPA – Or Just Corrupt Enough to Be His Attorney General," 5 Apr. 2018
The veteran right back plays left back when needed, and is a consummate loyal servant.

— jonathan tannenwald, Philly.com, "Union's Matthew Real could make MLS debut at Colorado Rapids," 29 Mar. 2018
She was born February 2, 1926 at home in Garwood, NJ and was a lifelong devout Catholic and a faithful servant of God.

— orlando sentinel, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Deaths in Central Florida: 3/3," 3 Mar. 2018
Politicians who become servants of the money power and not the people who elected them, and opportunists who would take advantage of these conflicts for their own benefits.

— charles p. pierce, Esquire, "Why Do the Koch Brothers Want a Convention of States?," 8 Jan. 2018
Part of the past was installed here: The original servant kitchen was replaced by the intricate kitchen and pantry saved from the 1882 Richard B. Knapp mansion, which was dismantled in the 1950s.

— janet eastman, OregonLive.com, "Glory days return to gilded 1882 Italianate mansion built for Portland shoe merchant (photos)," 24 Apr. 2018
The Marthas serve as domestic servants to the Wives, and are clad in dull grayish green.

— anna silman, The Cut, "Women in The Handmaid’s Tale: A Comprehensive Taxonomy," 24 Apr. 2018

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

Origin and Etymology of servant

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from present participle of servir

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 13th century

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

servant Synonyms

SERVANT Defined for English Language Learners

servant

noun

Definition of servant for English Language Learners

: a person who is hired to do household or personal duties such as cleaning and cooking
: a person who is devoted to or guided by something

SERVANT Defined for Kids

servant

noun ser·vant \ ˈsər-vənt \

Definition of servant for Students

: a person hired to perform household or personal services

Law Dictionary

servant

noun ser·vant

legal Definition of servant

: 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

Learn More about servant

See words that rhyme with servant Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for servant Spanish Central: Translation of servant Nglish: Translation of servant for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of servant for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up servant? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show

servant

Definition of servant

servanthood

servantless

Examples of servant in a Sentence

Recent Examples of servant from the Web

Origin and Etymology of servant

servant Synonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

Near Antonyms

Related Words

SERVANT Defined for English Language Learners

servant

Definition of servant for English Language Learners

SERVANT Defined for Kids

servant

Definition of servant for Students

Law Dictionary

servant

legal Definition of servant

Learn More about servant

Seen and Heard

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games

8 Insults Made Up of a Noun and a Verb

'Judicial' v. 'Judicious': We'll Settle The Case

May 2018 Words of the Day Quiz

Trending: Melania Trump Undergoes 'Embolization'

Ghost Word