Servant: Definition, Examples, and Usage

Meaning 1：domestic worker (servant)

servant 🔊

/ˈsɜːrvənt/

A person whose job is to work in another person's house, doing jobs like cleaning, cooking, or driving.

Servant in maid uniform polishing a wooden table in a tidy living room

domestic worker 🔊

➕

/dəˈmɛstɪk ˈwɜrkər/

A person employed to perform household duties such as cleaning, cooking, and other chores for another person or family.

📁 Category：Social Roles 🔖 Level：Beginner

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Latin 'servire' (to serve) + '-ant' (agent suffix), literally 'one who serves'.

💡 Mnemonic

Think of a 'server' at a restaurant who serves you food; a 'servant' serves in a home.

📖 Example

In the old mansion, a servant quietly polished the silver cutlery before the evening dinner. 🔊 In the old mansion, a servant quietly polished the silver cutlery before the evening dinner.

🔗 Collocations

public servant – A person who works for the government or state.

civil servant – A member of the administrative branch of government.

domestic servant – A servant employed in a private household.

🔄 Synonyms

maid (n.) – A female domestic servant, especially one who cleans rooms.

butler (n.) – The chief male servant of a household, in charge of other servants.

housekeeper (n.) – A person employed to manage a household and oversee domestic duties.

🚫 Antonyms

master (n.) – A person who has authority over servants or slaves.

employer (n.) – A person or organization that hires people for work.

boss (n.) – A person who supervises workers; opposite of subordinate.

🌱 Derivatives

servitude (n.) – The state of being a servant or slave.

servile (adj.) – Having the manner of a servant; overly submissive.

service (n./v.) – Work done for others; to perform duties for someone.

📖 Cultural Story

Evolved from Latin 'servus' (slave) and 'servire' (to serve). In medieval England, servants were essential in noble households; today, 'public servant' refers to government employees.