# courtier

/ˈkɔɹtiɝ/ (US) · /kˈɔːtɪɐ/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/courtier
Updated: 2026-10-16

## Definition

a person who lives or spends time at the court of a king or queen, often as an adviser or companion.

For teachers: a companion or adviser in attendance at a royal court, typically seeking favour or influence through service and flattery.

## Examples

- The courtier bows low before the queen.
- The young courtier spends his mornings attending the king and his evenings writing letters to win allies.
- A skilled courtier learns to read the monarch's moods, offering praise when it pleases and silence when counsel might offend.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.