majordomo

noun

ma·​jor·​do·​mo ˌmā-jər-ˈdō-(ˌ)mō 

plural majordomos

1

: a head steward of a large household (such as a palace)

2

: butler, steward

3

: a person who speaks, makes arrangements, or takes charge for another

broadly : the person who runs an enterprise

the majordomo of the fair

Did you know?

Majordomo has relatives in Spanish (mayordomo) and Italian (the now obsolete maiordomo), and English speakers borrowed the term from one of these languages. All three words—majordomo, mayordomo, and maiordomo—ultimately come from the Medieval Latin major domus, meaning "chief of the house." In its earliest uses, majordomo referred to the head steward of a royal household. The position was a high one with some relatively weighty responsibilities. Later, in the U.S., the word was used for the steward or overseer of a ranch. Since then, the word's meaning has extended even further; today, majordomo can designate any person who takes charge of another's affairs, be they business or personal.

Examples of majordomo in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Fresh off his San Vicente Bungalows run, Dimitri Dimitrov was back on hand as Tower Bar’s majordomo. —Chris Gardner, The Hollywood Reporter, 14 Sep. 2024

Alfred Molina, Ving Rhames, Toby Jones, and Paul Walter Hauser all drop by to add their touches to an underworld majordomo, a dogged BPD Special Ops officer, a political toady and Boston’s single dumbest thug, respectively. —David Fear, Rolling Stone, 1 Aug. 2024

With Herbert, and with palace majordomo Agnes (Riseborough), The Regime is attempting to insert some level of drama into all the scenes about how the rest of the country has to dance to Elena’s ridiculous tunes. —Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 29 Feb. 2024

The majordomo returned and handed Boba a large bag. —Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, 22 Aug. 2023

The property was cared for by her majordomo, Vic, a gay Englishman who’d previously run a household for Bette Davis and who was tasked with everything from cleaning up after her dogs to laying out dress options for various social engagements. —Seth Abramovitch, The Hollywood Reporter, 27 Apr. 2023

Jade Mountain offers a package to hike with your majordomo from the resort who will ensure your safety and comfort throughout the hike. —James Barrett, Men's Health, 6 Apr. 2023

The ominous visit from his majordomo. —Erik Kain, Forbes, 5 Jan. 2022

The revered majordomo died of a heart ailment in 1996 at age 82, at the Getty residence. —James Reginato, Town & Country, 5 July 2022

Word History

Etymology

Spanish mayordomo or obsolete Italian maiordomo, from Medieval Latin major domus, literally, chief of the house

First Known Use

1589, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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Kids Definition

majordomo

noun

ma·​jor·​do·​mo ˌmā-jər-ˈdō-mō 

plural majordomos

: a person in charge of a great and especially of a royal household