servant

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "servant" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it as a noun in English to refer to a person who works in someone else's home as a cook, cleaner, or any other sort of domestic help. For example: "The family hired a servant to help with the chores around the house."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

He is a former public servant and author of the book The Rise of the Fifth Estate: Social Media and Blogging in Australian Politics.

The Guardian

But the assumption must be that the memo, which was an official note by a Scotland Office civil servant, would have been written for the purpose of sending to ministers – during the period before the election campaign started on 30 March when Mr Carmichael was an MP.

The Guardian

Here are 10 books you could read in an evening (the number of pages varies depending on the edition): The Embassy of Cambodia by Zadie Smith (80 pages): a novella that follows the life of a young woman, Fatou, who works as a domestic servant in Willesden, north-west London.

The Guardian - Books

Although roughly three quarters of all science fiction is a dire warning of the destruction that will be wrought upon humanity by our own nut-nutted creations, humans continue to make the robot servant a reality.

The Guardian - Film

The document was a note taken by a Scotland Office civil servant recording a conversation with the French consul general in which the envoy recounted the contents of a private discussion between Sturgeon and the French ambassador.

The Guardian

Most of these skills remain unused, although my friend Rodney had a chance to test them when he was cast as a black servant in an end-of-term production of The Little Foxes.

The Guardian

Hence, last Tuesday – as a handful of Birmingham schools were told that they did not have a sufficiently "broad and balanced curriculum" because they taught limited sex and religious education – a DfE civil servant stood in court and defended Steiner's narrow range of GCSEs before a judge.

The Guardian

Finance is returned to its role as servant rather than master of the global economy; and we invest our taxes and encourage private savings into labour-intensive business opportunities that really protect the environment.

The Guardian - Opinion

She used to wear this horrible thing like a babygrow!" In 2003, Shelley married a Tory-supporting civil servant.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

When I graduated from high school in 1938, my two opportunities for employment were working in agriculture or being a domestic servant.

The Guardian - Travel

After promising to look into an NHS trial in England of the prince's favoured complementary medicines, the current hot contender for Labour leadership gushed, as per Debrett's advice: "I have the honour to remain, Sir, your Royal Highness's most humble and obedient servant".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "servant", consider the specific type of service being provided to ensure the term accurately reflects the role. Is it domestic, public, or something else?

Common error

The term "servant" can sometimes carry historical or negative connotations, particularly when referring to domestic staff. Consider using more modern and respectful terms like "domestic worker" or "household employee" where appropriate to avoid causing offense.

Linguistic Context

The noun "servant" primarily functions as a noun, denoting an individual who performs duties for another. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it aligns with standard grammatical rules. Examples in Ludwig showcase its use in both historical and contemporary contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

30%

Science

10%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "servant" is a grammatically sound and frequently used noun, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. Its primary function is to denote an individual who provides services to another, whether in a domestic, public, or other capacity. While generally neutral, it's important to be mindful of the potential for outdated or negative connotations and to consider using more modern alternatives like "domestic worker" or "employee" where appropriate. As demonstrated by the numerous examples in Ludwig, "servant" appears across various authoritative sources, including news media and formal business contexts, highlighting its continued relevance in contemporary language.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

domestic worker

Focuses specifically on household duties.

employee

A more general term for someone who works for another.

aide

Suggests providing assistance, often in a professional setting.

helper

A broad term indicating someone who provides assistance.

attendant

Someone who attends to the needs of another.

subordinate

Highlights the hierarchical relationship.

vassal

A historical term denoting a person under feudal obligation to a lord.

minion

Implies subservience and often a lack of autonomy.

lackey

Suggests a derogatory term for someone who obsequiously serves another.

underling

Denotes a person of lower status.

FAQs

How can I use "servant" in a sentence?

You can use "servant" to describe someone employed to perform domestic tasks, as in, "The family employed a cook as their "servant"."

What is a more modern term for "servant"?

Depending on the context, you might use "domestic worker", "household employee", or "aide" as a more contemporary alternative to "servant".

What is the difference between a "servant" and a "slave"?

A "servant" is hired and compensated for their work, whereas a "slave" is owned and forced to work without pay. The key difference lies in freedom and consent.

Is it appropriate to use "servant" in a professional context?

In most professional contexts, "employee" or "staff member" are more suitable terms. "Public "servant"" is an exception, referring to government employees.