valet

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

|Updated on: 1 Aug 2018

Examples: valet in a Sentence

Definition of valet

1 a : an employee (as of a hotel or a public facility) who performs personal services for customers

b : 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

See valet defined for kids

Recent Examples of valet from the Web

The mall’s valet will relocate to an area in between Blanco and True Food Kitchen.

— michele parente, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Fox Restaurant Concepts to add 4 new places in San Diego, 2 at Fashion Valley," 30 June 2018
Bouzaid surmised that the valet didn’t realize how powerful a Porsche can be.

— natalie dreier, ajc, "Parking fail: Valet drives Porsche under SUV," 31 May 2018
Built in 1769, the sprawling white complex doubles down on service, with uniformed valets waiting at the entrance and falconry lessons for guests (yes, really).

— bridget hallinan, Condé Nast Traveler, "3 Days in Southern Vermont," 16 Apr. 2018
News of the streaker was all the buzz among the hospital valets and staff in the nearby public defender’s office.

— tim prudente, baltimoresun.com, "Naked jogger turns heads Monday in downtown Baltimore," 9 Apr. 2018
For classic Swiss chalet ambiance in Deer Valley, and what is considered the world’s best ski hotel (with an unrivaled ski valet), Stein Eriksen Lodge steals the show.

— elycia rubin, The Hollywood Reporter, "Powder Players: Where Hollywood Hits The Slopes President’s Day Weekend," 7 Feb. 2018
As always, Forecastle offers a free bike valet service.

— jeffrey lee puckett, The Courier-Journal, "From parking garages to public transit, here's how to get to Forecastle," 11 July 2018
Have a valet park your car and enter via the front door or order meatballs at a window in The Fashion Mall Food court.

— liz biro, Indianapolis Star, "18 new restaurants in Carmel, Noblesville, Westfield and Indianapolis' north side," 27 June 2018
Sable is the former Rena Mero, who was brought into WWE following WrestleMania 12 as a valet for Hunter Hearst Helmsley as a way to pair her with her then-husband, Marc Mero.

— dan gartland, SI.com, "The Week in Wrestling: The Young Bucks Bring New Heavyweight Status to ‘All In’," 20 June 2018

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1b

See Words from the same year