servility

[ sur-vil-i-tee ]

noun

1. the quality of being slavishly submissive or fawning:

   The place was full of florists and decorators, all striving to outdo each other in servility to the bride-to-be.

2. the quality of being extremely imitative or unoriginal, especially in the arts:

   Servility to a French European tradition may explain why these 19th-century poets failed to leave a mark on French Canada’s literary history.

3. the state or condition of being a slave or servant:

   Under Guru Nanak, a people who had lived for centuries in total servility became valiant warriors against their oppressors.

Other Words From

• non·ser·vile·ness noun
• non·ser·vil·i·ty noun
• o·ver·ser·vile·ness noun
• o·ver·ser·vil·i·ty noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of servility¹

First recorded in 1525–35; servil(e) ( def ) + -ity ( def )

Example Sentences

When an Israeli minister is forced to humiliate himself on American TV because he can muster neither the sophistry nor the servility that a smoother answer would require, it’s a sign he’s in the wrong government.

From Seattle Times

Of special concern were college students accepting tips at summer jobs, because this marked them for “servility.”

From National Geographic

Forever demanding freedom, they really seek servility.

From Salon

In a typical fashion for the man who drew speculation about what fingers he uses to eat pudding, DeSantis went out trying to act tough but only ended up highlighting his servility to bigger bullies.

From Salon

It apologized for Tunisian journalists’ “participation in the plot of silence, for our self-censorship and our servility,” adding: “It must be hoped that, in the future, Tunisian journalists and media will no longer bend their backs to any power.”

From New York Times