servant

[ sur-vuhnt ]

noun

1. a person employed by another, especially to perform domestic duties.
2. a person in the service of another.
3. a person employed by the government:

   a public servant.

servant

/ ˈsɜːvənt /

noun

1. a person employed to work for another, esp one who performs household duties
2. See public servant

Derived Forms

• ˈservant-ˌlike, adjective

Other Words From

• servant·less adjective
• servant·like adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of servant¹

1175–1225; Middle English < Old French, noun use of present participle of servir to serve; -ant

Word History and Origins

Origin of servant¹

C13: via Old French, from servant serving, from servir to serve

Example Sentences

He has also pledged to fire thousands of civil servants unless they pledge to be loyal to him, as well as scrub references to climate change from government documents.

From Salon

And, we understand, the cabinet secretary, the most senior civil servant in the country, had spoken to her to confirm this.

From BBC

Born to a poor civil servant’s family in 1949, just a year before the Korean War broke out, Im grew up with five siblings in an industrial neighborhood of Seoul.

From Los Angeles Times

A Glasgow firefighter who died in one of the city’s worst peacetime tragedies is among the first recipients of a new posthumous royal award honouring public servants killed in the line of duty.

From BBC

The Elizabeth Emblem, named after the late Queen, will be given to the next of kin of more than 30 deceased firefighters, police officers and public servants in recognition of their loved ones.

From BBC

Related Words

• assistant
• attendant
• helper