# Jenkins

/ˈdʒɛŋkənz/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/jenkins
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. a surname

noun · CEFR A1

a common last name in English-speaking countries.

For teachers: a surname of Cornish and English origin, originally a patronymic meaning 'son of Jenkin'.

- Mr. Jenkins is the new science teacher at our local high school.
- The archival records indicate that the Jenkins family has resided in this particular district of Devon for over three centuries.

Usage: Always capitalized as a proper noun.

### 2. a sycophant

noun · CEFR C2 · Archaic · Informal

an old, insulting word for someone who flatters people in power to get what they want.

For teachers: a derogatory term for a flatterer or sycophant. This usage is dated and rarely encountered in modern corpora.

- The old novel described the butler as a grovelling jenkins who lived for his master's praise.
- In the satirical literature of the period, the character was portrayed as a typical jenkins, constantly seeking favour through insincere adulation.

Teaching tip: This sense is extremely rare in modern English; learners are far more likely to encounter the word as a surname.

## Examples

- Don't be a Jenkins and ruin our surprise party.
- The team's carefully planned heist failed because one member pulled a Jenkins and triggered the alarm early.
- In corporate environments, a 'Jenkins' is often the employee whose uncoordinated enthusiasm inadvertently sabotages a delicate negotiation by revealing confidential information prematurely.

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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.