noun
Common
butler
BUHT-luh
Butler (noun) means the chief male servant in a household, responsible for managing other staff, serving meals, and receiving guests. Example: “In the old film, the butler poured the tea and quietly left the room.”
noun
1
The chief male servant in a household, responsible for managing other staff, serving meals, and receiving guests.
"In the old film, the butler poured the tea and quietly left the room."
"The family's butler had worked in the big house for forty years."
"The butler answered the door and announced the guests."
How to use butler
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe senior male servant who runs the household staff, particularly in a large or wealthy house.
Common pairings
the family butler
hire a butler
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Word forms
- Plural
- butlers
- Third person singular
- butlers
- Past tense
- butlered
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
In the old film, the _____ poured the tea and quietly left the room.
Etymology
From Old French boteillier, "officer in charge of wine," ultimately from the same Latin root as "bottle."
Synonyms
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Rhymes for butler
See all rhymes for butler →Frequently asked questions
What does “butler” mean?
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.
How do you pronounce “butler”?
“Butler” is pronounced BUHT-luh (/ˈbʌt.lɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “butler” in a sentence?
Here is “butler” used in a sentence: “The butler answered the door and announced the guests.”
What is another word for “butler”?
Words with a similar meaning to “butler” include footman.
What part of speech is “butler”?
“Butler” is a noun.
Where does the word “butler” come from?
The word “butler” comes from Latin. From Old French boteillier, "officer in charge of wine," ultimately from the same Latin root as "bottle.".
Is “butler” a common word?
“Butler” is a fairly common word in modern English.
What is the difference between a butler and a valet?
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.
What is the difference between a butler and a footman?
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.
Is a butler higher than a housekeeper?
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.
Do butlers still exist today?
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.
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