attendant

[ uh-ten-duhnt ]

noun

1. a person who attends attend another, as to perform a service.

   Synonyms: servant, retainer, follower, comrade, companion, escort

2. Chiefly British. an usher or clerk.
3. a corollary or concomitant thing or quality.

   Synonyms: consequence, accompaniment

4. a person who is present, as at a meeting.

adjective

1. being present or in attendance; accompanying.
2. consequent; concomitant; associated; related: poverty and its attendant hardships.

   winter holidays and attendant parties; war and its attendant evils;

   poverty and its attendant hardships.

attendant

/ əˈtɛndənt /

noun

1. a person who accompanies or waits upon another
2. a person employed to assist, guide, or provide a service for others, esp for the general public

   a lavatory attendant

3. a person who is present
4. a logical consequence or natural accompaniment

   hatred is often an attendant of jealousy

adjective

1. being in attendance
2. associated; accompanying; related

   attendant problems

Other Words From

• at·tendant·ly adverb
• super·at·tendant noun adjective
• unat·tendant adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of attendant¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Middle French, present participle of attendre “to notice, await”; attend, -ant

Example Sentences

I believe Harris would have won, with all the attendant advantages for democracy, peace and prosperity here and around the world.

From Salon

In the attack on the Spirit plane, a flight attendant suffered minor injuries but no passengers were hurt.

From BBC

A flight attendant suffered minor injuries, the airline said in a statement, adding that no passengers were hurt.

From BBC

South could flourish despite the historical baggage of the American Revolution’s break from the Old World and its attendant monarchies and aristocracies.

From Salon

Night operations are not permitted at the tiny, single-runway airport because of unsafe conditions — there’s no air traffic controller, no evening attendants and no runway lights.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• aide
• assistant
• custodian
• helper
• nurse
• servant