butler

The word “butler” means the chief male servant in a household, responsible for managing other staff, serving meals, and receiving guests. In plain terms, the senior male servant who runs the household staff, particularly in a large or wealthy house.

“Butler” is pronounced BUHT-luh (/ˈbʌt.lɚ/ in IPA).

Here is “butler” used in a sentence: “The butler answered the door and announced the guests.”

Words with a similar meaning to “butler” include footman.

“Butler” is a noun.

The word “butler” comes from Latin. From Old French boteillier, "officer in charge of wine," ultimately from the same Latin root as "bottle.".

“Butler” is a fairly common word in modern English.

A butler is the chief male servant of a household, responsible for managing the other staff, serving meals, and receiving guests. A valet is a personal attendant to one man, looking after his clothes, grooming, and day-to-day personal needs rather than running the household.

The butler is the senior figure: he manages the household's male staff, oversees service, and receives guests. A footman is a more junior servant who traditionally waited at table, answered the door, and ran errands under the butler's direction.

In large traditional households the butler headed the male staff and the housekeeper headed the female staff, making them roughly parallel senior roles. In practice the butler was usually regarded as the most senior servant overall, particularly in grand houses.

Yes. Modern butlers work in private households, luxury hotels, and large residences around the world. The role today often resembles that of a household manager — overseeing staff, service, and the smooth running of the home — rather than only serving at table.