# subservient

/səbˈsɝviənt/ (US) · /sʌbsˈɜːviənt/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/subservient
Updated: 2026-05-20

## Definition

behaving in a way that shows you are very willing to obey or help someone else. It describes someone who does not act independently and instead follows orders.

For teachers: characterised by a willingness to obey or serve others; lacking independence. Often used to describe a person's attitude toward a superior or a system.

## Examples

- He was very subservient to his boss's every request.
- The assistant was so subservient that she never offered her own opinions during the meeting.
- The novel explores the psychological toll of a subservient personality in a hierarchical society where individual agency is systematically suppressed by institutional power.

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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.