flunky

noun

flun·​ky ˈfləŋ-kē 

variants or less commonly flunkey or flunkie

plural flunkies also flunkeys

1

a

: a liveried servant

b

: one performing menial or miscellaneous duties

2

: yes-man

Synonyms

• daily [British]
• domestic
• lackey
• menial
• retainer
• servant
• steward

Examples of flunky in a Sentence

If he can't go himself, he'll send one of his flunkies.

since I'm just the flunky who files his papers, I've no idea where he is

Recent Examples on the Web

By quieting the clamor among the offended Giants, Mays was not acting as a flunky for his white manager. —Aram Goudsouzian / Made By History, TIME, 25 June 2024

One fib could land him in jail with the rest of his flunkies. —Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 25 May 2024

Lou’s father runs the town, sort of like a low-level mobster in a mob that only employs flunkies and toadies with nothing better to do. —Bill Goodykoontz, The Arizona Republic, 13 Mar. 2024

Brennan’s flunkies created a fake online profile to access the network used by the Senate Intelligence Committee, whose Democratic members were at the time investigating the CIA’s torture program. —Becket Adams, National Review, 9 July 2023

Word History

Etymology

Scots, of unknown origin

First Known Use

circa 1782, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

flunky

noun

flun·​ky

variants also flunkey or flunkie

ˈfləŋ-kē

plural flunkies also flunkeys

1

a

: a servant in livery

b

: a person who has simple or unskilled duties

2

: a person who flatters or constantly agrees with another in the hope of receiving favors