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

She was placed as an indentured servant with the Toppan family of Lowell and took their surname, per the Lowell Historical Society and the West End Museum. —Christina Coulter, People.com, 16 Aug. 2025

Frick lived there with his wife, Adelaide Howard Childs Frick, their daughter, and their 27 servants who lived on the third floor. —Irene S. Levine, Forbes.com, 5 Aug. 2025

Despite this, and despite most family members’ forceful objections, Roger’s mother, Lady Tichborne embraced him as her son, later supported by Roger’s former colleagues and family servants. —Nell Stevens august 4, Literary Hub, 4 Aug. 2025

Robert impulsively hires a poacher named Marceau, who is Schumacher’s nemesis, as a domestic servant; once in the château, Marceau brazenly pursues Lisette, arousing Schumacher’s violent jealousy. —Richard Brody, New Yorker, 30 July 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