# lackey

/ˈɫæki/ (US) · /lˈæki/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. a servile follower

noun · CEFR C1 · Informal

someone who follows a powerful person and does boring or dishonest tasks for them just to please them.

For teachers: a person who is willing to obey or serve another person in a fawning or servile way, often used as a derogatory term for a subordinate.

- The politician was always surrounded by lackeys who agreed with everything he said.
- The CEO refused to listen to dissenting opinions, preferring the company of lackeys who would never challenge his authority.

Usage: Usually used as a derogatory label to imply the person has no dignity or independent thought.

### 2. a liveried servant

noun · CEFR C2 · Archaic · Formal

a male servant who wears a special uniform, usually in a large, old-fashioned house.

For teachers: a uniformed male servant or footman, typically in a historical or highly formal domestic context.

- In the old movie, a lackey opened the carriage door for the duchess.
- The grand estate required a small army of lackeys and maids to maintain the rigorous standards of the Victorian era.

Teaching tip: This sense is mostly found in historical novels or period dramas; modern speakers almost always use the 'servile follower' meaning.

### 3. to serve obsequiously

verb · CEFR C2 · Literary · Archaic

to follow and serve someone in a way that shows you have no self-respect.

For teachers: to wait upon or serve someone in an obsequiously submissive manner.

- He spent his whole career lackeying for the governor in hopes of a promotion.
- The courtier was known for lackeying to the king, performing even the most menial tasks with an exaggerated show of devotion.

Usage: The verb is transitive when it means to attend someone, but can be used intransitively in older texts.

## Examples

- He was just a lackey for his boss.
- The politician's lackey ensured that every detail of the event was perfectly organized to his master's liking.
- While the protagonist was the public face of the corporation, his lackey managed the internal affairs, often acting as a buffer between the CEO and the board of directors.

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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.