What does "attendant" mean?

1. (service worker) a person whose job is to help customers or look after a place. 2. (personal servant) someone who works for an important person, helping them with their daily needs. 3. (accompanying) happening at the same time as something else, often as a result.

How do you use "attendant"?

Usually placed before the noun it describes.

attendant

n. · adj.

US //əˈtɛndənt// UK //ɐtˈɛndənt// at·ten·dant

1 service worker (n.)
B2 Upper Intermediate

a person whose job is to help customers or look after a place.

an individual employed to provide service, assistance, or supervision in a public or commercial setting.

Example

The flight attendant showed the passengers how to use the oxygen masks.

Example

The parking attendant directed the arriving guests to the overflow lot once the main garage had reached its maximum capacity.
- customer
- client
2 personal servant (n.)
C1 Advanced Formal

someone who works for an important person, helping them with their daily needs.

a subordinate or servant who accompanies and assists a person of high rank or status.

Example

The queen was followed by a royal attendant carrying her heavy cloak.

Example

In the historical drama, the duke's personal attendant was responsible for managing his correspondence and maintaining his formal wardrobe.
- master
- employer

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3 accompanying (adj.)
C1 Advanced Academic Formal

happening at the same time as something else, often as a result.

occurring as a natural consequence or accompanying a primary event or condition.

Example

The new factory brought jobs, but also many attendant problems like traffic.

Example

The rapid expansion of the city led to a rise in property values and the attendant risk of displacing long-term residents from the downtown core.

Usage

Usually placed before the noun it describes.
- unrelated

Origin

From Middle English attendant, attendaunt, from Old French attendant. By surface analysis, attend + -ant.