# retinue

/ˈɹɛtəˌnu/ (US) · /ɹˈɛtɪnjˌuː/ (UK) · CEFR C2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/retinue
Updated: 2026-10-18

## Definition

a group of people who travel with an important person to help and serve them, such as assistants, guards, or servants.

For teachers: a group of attendants, assistants, or followers accompanying an important person on formal or official occasions. Implies hierarchy and service to a central figure.

## Examples

- The singer arrives with a large retinue of helpers.
- The minister enters the conference with her retinue of aides, security staff, and translators.
- Surrounded by a silent retinue of advisers and guards, the ambassador crossed the courtyard, each step underscoring the weight of ceremony behind the negotiations.

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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.