Word
servant
Phoneticsser·vant, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈsɝvənt/
UK/sˈɜːvənt/
Definitions
01domestic worker
B1 · Intermediate Countable noun
n. a person who is paid to work in someone else's house, doing tasks like cleaning or cooking.
n. a person employed by another to perform domestic duties within a household.
日本語:使用人※
“In the past, wealthy families often had several servants to help with the housework.”
“The historical drama depicts the complex social hierarchy between the wealthy landowners and the domestic servants who maintained the estate.”
Usage
Often used in historical contexts; modern equivalents are usually 'housekeeper' or 'domestic worker'.
02public official
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Formal
n. someone who works for the government or the public.
n. an individual who performs duties for the benefit of the public or a government body.
“He spent his entire career as a public servant, working to improve the city's schools.”
“The prime minister reminded the cabinet that they were, first and foremost, servants of the people.”
Usage
Commonly found in the compound noun 'public servant'.
03religious follower
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Religion
n. a person who serves or obeys God or a religion.
n. a person who expresses their devotion to a deity or religious cause through service and obedience.
“The priest described himself as a humble servant of God.”
“The scripture encourages every servant of the faith to act with charity and humility toward others.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “servant” in context.
Verb
01. dismiss servant
“The servant was dismissed after he was caught stealing from the kitchen.”
verb + noun
02. employ servant
“Wealthy households used to employ several servants to manage the chores.”
verb + noun
03. servant obey
“The servant obeyed every command without question.”
noun + verb
Adjective
04. civil servant
“The civil servant explained the new government regulations to the press.”
adj + noun
05. domestic servant
“In the 19th century, many young women worked as domestic servants.”
adj + noun
06. faithful servant
“The king rewarded his faithful servant with a small plot of land.”
adj + noun
07. loyal servant
“He was a loyal servant to the family for over forty years.”
adj + noun
08. public servant
“As a public servant, she dedicated her life to improving the local schools.”
adj + noun
Noun
09. master and servant
“The law used to define the relationship between master and servant very strictly.”
noun + and + noun
10. a dedicated public servant
“The mayor was remembered as a dedicated public servant who never took a bribe.”
11. a servant of the people
“The politician claimed to be a humble servant of the people.”
12. live as a servant
“She had to live as a servant to pay off her family's debts.”
Etymology
From Middle English servaunt, from Old French servant, from the present participle of the verb servir. Doublet of sergeant and servient. Morphologically serve + -ant. Displaced native Old English þeġn.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B1 PreliminaryIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.4.0–5.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 3.0–3.544–71TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.550–784
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- B1 · IntermediateOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/servant
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「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0