valet

play

noun va·let \ˈva-lət, ˈva-(ˌ)lā, va-ˈlā\

Definition of valet

1a : an employee (as of a hotel or a public facility) who performs personal services for customersb : a man's male servant who performs personal services (such as taking care of clothing)
2 : a device (such as a rack or tray) for holding clothing or personal effects

See valet defined for English-language learners

Recent Examples of valet from the Web

The opening shot of the movie sees Ryan O’Neal rise into focus, riding a one-man valet elevator in a parking garage, as the dirge-like score hums atonally.

— david sims, The Atlantic, "Baby Driver Is a Rare Heist Movie with a Heart", 4 July 2017
A valet was available to park the cars of customers.

— regina garcia cano, The Seattle Times, "Nevada launches sales of legal recreational marijuana", 1 July 2017
A valet was available to park the cars of customers.

— CBS News, "Nevada pot shops see green as sales of legal recreational marijuana begin", 1 July 2017
The hotel also offers complimentary Tesla rides for guests (or a valet for your bike), and pet-friendly rooms — so spend your dog-sitter fund on more pampering.

— Daily Intelligencer, "5 Luxe NYC Hotels Perfect for a Quick Summer Staycation", 30 June 2017
Last August, the wheel offered a parking garage with valet service and a capacity of about 800 cars.

— hannah alani, New York Times, "Staten Island Yankees Battle Dropping Attendance", 26 June 2017
Bicycle valet and bike corral on the Greenbelt side of the park.

— michelle jenkins, idahostatesman, "Launch into summer with music, fireworks", 23 June 2017
There will be a bicycle valet and guarded bike corral on the Greenbelt side of the park.

— dana oland, idahostatesman, "‘We love playing here,’ Built to Spill’s Doug Martsch says about Friday’s Boise show", 22 June 2017
The event organizers recommend taking public transportation, biking (there’s a bike valet because…Santa Monica), or using a ride share program to avoid waiting an hour in traffic to get out of Santa Monica after the show.

— lisa beebe, Los Angeles Magazine, "Free Twilight Concerts on Santa Monica Pier Are Back", 20 June 2017

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

Origin and Etymology of valet

Middle English vadlet, valet, varlet “male servant, groom, knight's attendant,” borrowed from Anglo-French, “young man of noble birth serving a lord, boy, servant,” going back to Gallo-Romance *vassellittus, diminutive of *vassellus, diminutive of early Medieval Latin vassus “serf, servant, vassal” — more at vassal

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First Known Use: 14th century

See Words from the same year

Other Job Terms

factotum, milliner, ostler, scrivener, tinker, webster, wordsmith

valet

verb va·let

Definition of valet

transitive verb
: to serve as a valet

See valet defined for English-language learners

Examples of valet in a Sentence

She runs her own valeting business.

Recent Examples of valet from the Web

The most desirable and most expensive item on our list is the valet stand or valet chair.

— troy patterson, Bloomberg.com, "Eight Ways to Help You Organize Your Closet", 11 May 2017

First Known Use of valet

1840

VALET Defined for English Language Learners

valet

play

noun

Definition of valet for English Language Learners

: a person who parks cars for guests at a hotel, restaurant, etc.
: a man's personal male servant
: someone who cleans the clothes of guests staying in a hotel

valet

verb

Definition of valet for English Language Learners

: to clean (a person's car) very well

VALET Defined for Kids

valet

play

noun va·let \ˈva-lət, ˈva-lā, va-ˈlā\

Definition of valet for Students

1 : a person who parks cars for guests (as at a restaurant)
2 : a male servant or hotel employee who takes care of a man's clothes and does personal services