butler

noun

but·​ler ˈbət-lər 

1

: a manservant having charge of the wines and liquors

2

: the chief male servant of a household who has charge of other employees, receives guests, directs the serving of meals, and performs various personal services

Examples of butler in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

This mountaintop retreat offers supreme seclusion perfect for honeymooners, who can bask in their private infinity pools and enjoy personalized butler service at this too-good-to-be-true escape. —Carley Rojas Avila, Travel + Leisure, 2 Nov. 2024

Expect a healthy dose of mountain charm with the most high-end touches like an on-call butler service, guest rooms decked in fine linens, a world-class on-site spa, multiple heated outdoor pools (perfect for a post-slopes soak), and a five-minute walk to the base of Aspen Mountain. —Will Porter, Architectural Digest, 31 Oct. 2024

All of them follow this corpulent detective, Nero, who lives in a town house with his butler, Fritz. —The New Yorker, 30 Oct. 2024

The new wave of all-inclusives is all about luxury, offering enticements from gourmet à la carte dining to personal butler service to high-end experiences unique to their locales. —Suzanne Rowan Kelleher, Forbes, 29 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English buteler, from Anglo-French butiller, from Old French botele bottle — more at bottle

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing butler

• butler's pantry
• silent butler

Kids Definition

butler

noun

but·​ler ˈbət-lər 

: a chief male household servant

Etymology

Middle English buteler "household servant in charge of wines," from early French butiller (same meaning), from botele "bottle," derived from Latin buttis "cask"

Biographical Definition

Butler 1 of 5

biographical name (1)

But·​ler ˈbət-lər 

Benjamin Franklin 1818–1893 American general and politician

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biographical name (2)

Joseph 1692–1752 English theologian

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biographical name (3)

Nicholas Murray 1862–1947 American educator; president Columbia University (1901–45)

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biographical name (4)

Samuel 1612–1680 English satirical poet

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biographical name (5)

Samuel 1835–1902 English novelist and satirist