# henchman

/ˈhɛntʃmən/ (US) · /hˈɛntʃmən/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/henchman
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 2. political follower

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

a loyal supporter of a powerful leader, often working for their own selfish reasons.

For teachers: a loyal follower or subordinate who supports a political figure, often motivated by personal gain rather than principle.

- The governor was always surrounded by his political henchmen during the campaign.
- Critics argued that the senator's inner circle was composed entirely of henchmen who prioritised party loyalty over the public interest.

### 3. historical page

noun · CEFR C2 · Archaic

in the past, a young man who served a prince or person of high rank.

For teachers: a page or squire to a prince or other person of high rank; the original, non-pejorative sense of the term.

- The young henchman stood behind the king during the royal feast.
- In medieval courtly records, the term henchman referred to a high-ranking page who attended to the monarch's personal needs.

Teaching tip: This sense is archaic; modern learners will almost exclusively encounter the word in the context of crime or villainy.

## Examples

- The villain had a loyal henchman who carried his bags.
- In many classic adventure stories, the hero must outsmart the villain and his henchman to save the day.
- The historical novel explores the complex relationship between a ruthless warlord and his henchman, who eventually becomes his most dangerous rival.

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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.