servant
SUR-vuhnt
Servant (noun) means a person employed to do household or personal work for someone else. Example: “In the novel, a young servant brings the family their tea each afternoon.”
noun
1
A person employed to do household or personal work for someone else.
"In the novel, a young servant brings the family their tea each afternoon."
"The old manor house once had a dozen servants living on the grounds."
"She worked as a servant for a wealthy family in the city."
2
Someone who serves or helps another, often in a devoted or humble way (including "civil servant" for public officials).
"The nurse thought of herself as a humble servant of the sick and the poor."
"A civil servant is meant to be a servant of the public, not of politicians."
"He saw himself as a servant of the community."
How to use servant
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSomeone whose job is to work for and help another person.
Common pairings
civil servant
faithful servant
servant of the people
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Word forms
- Plural
- servants
- Third person singular
- servants
- Past tense
- servanted
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
In the novel, a young _____ brings the family their tea each afternoon.
Etymology
From Old French servant, the present participle of servir ("to serve"), ultimately from Latin servire.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for servant
See all rhymes for servant →Frequently asked questions
What does “servant” mean?
The word “servant” means a person employed to do household or personal work for someone else. In plain terms, someone whose job is to work for and help another person.
How do you pronounce “servant”?
“Servant” is pronounced SUR-vuhnt (/ˈsɝvənt/ in IPA).
How do you use “servant” in a sentence?
Here is “servant” used in a sentence: “The old manor house once had a dozen servants living on the grounds.”
What part of speech is “servant”?
“Servant” is a noun.
Where does the word “servant” come from?
The word “servant” comes from Latin. From Old French servant, the present participle of servir ("to serve"), ultimately from Latin servire.
Is “servant” a common word?
“Servant” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “servant” have?
“Servant” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a person employed to do household or personal work for someone else.
What is the difference between a servant and a slave?
A servant is a person employed to do household or personal work, is paid, and is free to leave the job. A slave is held as property and forced to work without freedom or pay. Employment is the defining feature of a servant, and the distinction matters both historically and legally.
Why are government workers called civil servants?
A civil servant is someone employed in the civil administration of a state — "civil" distinguishes this work from military service. The term reflects the idea that public officials serve the public, one of the broader senses of servant as someone who serves or helps others.
What is the difference between a servant and a maid?
Servant is the general term for anyone employed to do household or personal work. A maid is one specific kind of servant: a woman employed chiefly for cleaning and other domestic duties.
Is servant an outdated word?
In the sense of household staff, servant now sounds old-fashioned, and terms such as domestic worker, housekeeper, or cleaner are generally preferred. The word remains fully current in fixed phrases such as civil servant and public servant, and in figurative uses like "a servant of the community".
