noun
Uncommon
valet
VA-lay
Valet (noun) means a personal attendant who looks after someone's clothes and general appearance. Example: “The actor travelled with a valet who kept his suits pressed and ready.”
noun
1
A personal attendant who looks after someone's clothes and general appearance.
"The actor travelled with a valet who kept his suits pressed and ready."
"Hotel guests can send shirts to be pressed via the valet service."
2
Someone employed to park and fetch cars for customers.
"We handed the keys to the valet outside the restaurant."
verb
1
To clean and service a car thoroughly, inside and out.
"He had his car valeted before selling it."
How to use valet
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSomeone (or a service) that looks after your clothes, appearance, or car for you.
Common mistake
In the US, "valet parking" refers to the service; in the UK, "to valet" a car usually means a full interior/exterior clean, not just parking it.
Common pairings
valet parking
valet service
have the car valeted
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Word forms
- Plural
- valets
- Third person singular
- valets
- Past tense
- valeted
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The actor travelled with a _____ who kept his suits pressed and ready.
Etymology
From Old French vaslet, related to "vassal" — originally meaning a young manservant.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for valet
See all rhymes for valet →Frequently asked questions
What does “valet” mean?
The word “valet” means a personal attendant who looks after someone's clothes and general appearance. In plain terms, someone (or a service) that looks after your clothes, appearance, or car for you.
How do you pronounce “valet”?
“Valet” is pronounced VA-lay (/ˈvæleɪ/ in IPA).
How do you use “valet” in a sentence?
Here is “valet” used in a sentence: “The actor travelled with a valet who kept his suits pressed and ready.”
What part of speech is “valet”?
Depending on how it is used, “valet” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “valet” come from?
The word “valet” comes from Old French. From Old French vaslet, related to "vassal" — originally meaning a young manservant.
Is “valet” a common word?
“Valet” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “valet” have?
“Valet” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a personal attendant who looks after someone's clothes and general appearance.
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