hanger-on
/ˌhaŋərˈɒn
/noun (plural hangers-on)
A person who associates with another person or a group in a sycophantic manner or for the purpose of gaining some personal advantage: the shysters, the freebooters, the hangers-on who traditionally take advantage of champions...
- We aren't paid the vast sums of money, we aren't as high profile, we don't have as much media intrusion or the sort of hangers-on that can be associated with Premiership stars.
- But he also set an undisputed world record, for the number of aides, acolytes, spongers and hangers-on that he assembled in one place at the same time.
- Chris and Emma got married among friends, family and associated hangers-on on Saturday night.
Synonyms
follower, flunkey, toady, camp follower, sycophant, fawner, parasite, leech;
henchman, minion, lackey, vassal, dependant, retainer, acolyte, underling;
North American cohort
informal groupie, sponger, freeloader, passenger, sidekick
British informal ligger
archaic liegeman, pursuivant