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

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

From National Geographic

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

They learned that there was no way to avoid that short of total servility and deference.

From Salon

Demonstrating anything less than servility to the world’s wealthiest man seems to make Musk lash out, which is probably one of the reasons he hates journalists and left-wing politicians so much.

From Los Angeles Times

In April, Mr Tinkov castigated the Kremlin in even stronger terms, condemning what he called a regime based on nepotism and servility.

From BBC