retainer

1 of 2

noun (1)

re·​tain·​er ri-ˈtā-nər 

1

a

: a person attached or owing service to a household

especially : servant

b

: employee

2

: one that retains

3

: a device or structure that holds something in place: such as

a

: the part of a dental replacement (such as a bridge) by which it is made fast to adjacent natural teeth

b

: a dental appliance used to hold teeth in correct position especially following orthodontic treatment

retainer

2 of 2

noun (2)

1

: the act of a client by which the services of a lawyer, counselor, or adviser are engaged

2

: a fee paid to a lawyer or professional adviser for advice or services or for a claim on services when needed

Synonyms

Noun (1)

• servant
• maid

Examples of retainer in a Sentence

Noun (1)

knights being dressed for battle by their retainers

lifelong civil service retainers

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Fast forward to getting my braces off in junior year to starting my first year in college: my retainer didn’t fit correctly, and my teeth began to shift slightly, resulting in the return of my gap. —Larry Stansbury, Essence, 14 July 2025

The county attorneys in the prosecutor's office agreed to pay $900,000 this year in fees to Inner Circle in addition to the $25,000 monthly retainer for what could amount to a total of $1.2 million. —Scott Wartman, The Enquirer, 3 July 2025

In a sign Adams’ legal bills are likely to pile up further, the disbursements to Spiro’s firm are reported in the records as being monthly retainer payments of about $750,000, spanning from September 2024 through December 2024. —Chris Sommerfeldt, New York Daily News, 16 Apr. 2025

Many small firms were unfamiliar with digital marketing and couldn't afford agencies to support them on a retainer. —Alison Coleman, Forbes.com, 23 July 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun (2)

Middle English reteigner, literally, retention, from Anglo-French, from reteigner, verb

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1508, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun (2)

1767, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for retainer

• abstainer
• campaigner
• complainer
• container
• coplanar
• detainer
• maintainer
• nonplanar
• sustainer
• entertainer
• gainer
• plainer

Kids Definition

retainer

1 of 2 noun

re·​tain·​er ri-ˈtā-nər 

: a fee paid (as to a lawyer) for advice or services or for a claim upon services in case of need

retainer

2 of 2 noun

1

: a servant or follower in a wealthy household

2

: one that retains

3

: a usually removable dental device used to hold teeth in correct position especially following orthodontic treatment (as with braces)

called also bite plate

Medical Definition

retainer

noun

re·​tain·​er ri-ˈtān-ər 

1

: the part of a dental replacement (as a bridge) by which it is made fast to adjacent natural teeth

2

: a dental appliance used to hold teeth in their correct position especially following orthodontic treatment

Legal Definition

retainer

noun

re·​tain·​er ri-ˈtā-nər 

1

: the act of a client by which the services of a lawyer are engaged

2

: a fee paid to a lawyer for advice or services or for a claim on services when needed

Etymology

Noun

Anglo-French retener act of engaging or employing, from retener, retenir to engage, retain