A servant is someone who is employed to work at another person's home, for example as a cleaner or a gardener.
2. countable noun
You can use servant to refer to someone or something that provides a service for people or can be used by them.
Like any other public servants, police must respond to public demand.
The question is whether technology is going to be our servant or our master.
3. See also civil servant
More Synonyms of servant
servant in British English
(ˈsɜːvənt)
noun
1.
a person employed to work for another, esp one who performs household duties
2. public servant
Derived forms
servant-like (ˈservant-ˌlike)
adjective
Word origin
C13: via Old French, from servant serving, from servir to serve
servant in American English
(ˈsɜrvənt)
noun
1.
a person employed to perform services, esp. household duties, for another
2.
a person employed by a government
see also public servant, civil servant
3.
a person devoted to another or to a cause, creed, etc.
Word origin
ME < OFr < prp. of servir < L servire, to serve
Examples of 'servant' in a sentence
servant
They monitor the actions of frontline public servants such as police and teachers.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
We are the servants of the people.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Then there were the household servants who had a little more independence.
Christianity Today (2000)
The servants who worked for her were too scared to say anything.
The Times Literary Supplement (2014)
The servants witnessed domestic rows and violence.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
The police are there as public servants.
The Sun (2009)
This is the manager as servant rather than master.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
How could so many former servants be so hopelessly deceived?
Deborah Cadbury THE LOST KING OF FRANCE: Revolution, Revenge and the Search for Louis XVII (2002)
New civil servants must be trained and ready to replace those convicted of corruption.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Or domestic servants to the celebrities of the day?
The Sun (2009)
Like all public servants they are subject to a pay freeze.
The Sun (2011)
The telephones ring in empty houses from which masters and servants alike have gone.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Here a number of his former servants presented themselves.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
The committee spoke out following the arrests of ten journalists on suspicion of illegal payments to police and public servants.
The Sun (2012)
We will miss him: he was a servant of the people.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
When the giant saw him, he commanded one of his servants to capture the bird.
Barrett, Clive The Gods of Asgard (1989)
In other languages
servant
British English: servant /ˈsɜːvnt/ NOUN
A servant is someone who is employed to work in another person's house, for example to cook or clean.
The family employed several servants.
American English: servant
Arabic: خَادِم
Brazilian Portuguese: criado
Chinese: 仆人
Croatian: sluga
Czech: sluha
Danish: tjener
Dutch: bediende
European Spanish: criado
Finnish: palvelija
French: serviteur
German: Dienstbote
Greek: υπηρέτης
Italian: domestico
Japanese: 使用人
Korean: 하인
Norwegian: tjener
Polish: służący
European Portuguese: criado
Romanian: servitor
Russian: слуга
Latin American Spanish: criado
Swedish: tjänare
Thai: คนรับใช้
Turkish: hizmetçi
Ukrainian: слугаслужниця
Vietnamese: người hầu
All related terms of 'servant'
civil servant
A civil servant is a person who works in the Civil Service in Britain and some other countries, or for the local , state, or federal government in the United States .
servant girl
a girl or woman employed as a servant who performs household duties
general servant
a domestic servant who performs general tasks
public servant
A public servant is a person who is appointed or elected to a public office, for example working for a local or state government .
domestic servant
a household servant
indentured servant
a person who came to America and was placed under contract to work for another over a period of time, usually seven years, esp. during the 17th to 19th centuries. Generally , indentured servants included redemptioners, victims of religious or political persecution , persons kidnapped for the purpose, convicts , and paupers
manservant
A manservant is a man who works as a servant in a private house.
Chinese translation of 'servant'
servant
(ˈsəːvənt)
n(c)
(= worker) 佣(傭)人 (yōngrén)
(fig) 工具 (gōngjù) (件, jiàn)
(noun)
Definition
a person employed to do household work for another person
She couldn't lift a spoon without a servant.
Synonyms
attendant
He was working as a car-park attendant.
domestic
He worked for 10 or 15 years as a domestic.
slave
still living as slaves in the desert
maid
A maid brought me breakfast at half past eight.
help
helper
Younger children may need a helper.
retainer
the ever-faithful family retainer
menial
drudge
I was treated like a household drudge.
lackey
I'm not staying as a paid lackey to act as your yes-man.
vassal
the vassal's oath of homage to his lord
skivvy mainly British)
servitor (archaic)
varlet (archaic)
liegeman
Additional synonyms
in the sense of domestic
Definition
a household servant
He worked for 10 or 15 years as a domestic.
Synonyms
servant,
help,
maid,
woman (informal),
daily,
char (informal),
charwoman,
daily help,
maid-of-all-work
in the sense of drudge
Definition
a person who works hard at an uninteresting task
I was treated like a household drudge.
Synonyms
menial,
worker,
servant,
slave,
toiler,
dogsbody (informal),
plodder,
factotum,
scullion (archaic),
skivvy (British),
maid or man of all work
in the sense of helper
Younger children may need a helper.
Synonyms
assistant,
partner,
ally,
colleague,
supporter,
mate,
deputy,
second,
subsidiary,
aide,
aider,
attendant,
collaborator,
auxiliary,
or woman or person">henchman or woman or person,
right-hand man or woman or person,
adjutant,
helpmate,
coadjutor,
abettor
Synonyms of 'servant'
servant
Explore 'servant' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of lackey
Definition
a servile follower
I'm not staying as a paid lackey to act as your yes-man.
Synonyms
hanger-on,
fawner,
pawn,
attendant,
tool,
instrument,
parasite,
cohort (US),
valet,
menial,
minion,
footman,
sycophant,
yes-man,
manservant,
toady,
flunky,
brown-noser (taboo, slang),
flatterer,
ass-kisser (US, Canadian, taboo, slang),
varlet (archaic)
in the sense of maid
Definition
a female servant
A maid brought me breakfast at half past eight.
Synonyms
servant,
chambermaid,
housemaid,
abigail,
menial,
handmaiden (archaic),
maidservant,
female servant,
domestic (archaic),
parlourmaid,
serving-maid
in the sense of menial
Definition
a domestic servant
Synonyms
servant,
domestic,
attendant,
lackey,
labourer,
serf,
underling (derogatory),
drudge,
vassal (archaic),
dogsbody (informal),
flunky,
skivvy (British),
varlet (archaic)
in the sense of retainer
Definition
a servant who has been with a family for a long time
the ever-faithful family retainer
Synonyms
servant,
domestic,
attendant,
valet,
supporter,
dependant,
or woman or person">henchman or woman or person,
footman,
lackey,
vassal,
flunky
in the sense of slave
Definition
a person legally owned by another for whom he or she has to work without freedom, pay, or rights
still living as slaves in the desert
Synonyms
servant,
serf,
vassal,
bondsman,
slavey (British, informal),
varlet (archaic),
villein,
bondservant
in the sense of vassal
Definition
(in feudal society) a man who gave military service to a lord in return for protection and often land