retainer

1 of 2

noun (1)

re·​tain·​er ri-ˈtā-nər 

1

a

: a person attached or owing service to a household

especially : servant

b

: employee

2

: one that retains

3

: a device or structure that holds something in place: such as

a

: the part of a dental replacement (such as a bridge) by which it is made fast to adjacent natural teeth

b

: a dental appliance used to hold teeth in correct position especially following orthodontic treatment

retainer

2 of 2

noun (2)

1

: the act of a client by which the services of a lawyer, counselor, or adviser are engaged

2

: a fee paid to a lawyer or professional adviser for advice or services or for a claim on services when needed

Synonyms

Noun (1)

• daily [British]
• domestic
• flunky
• flunkey
• flunkie
• lackey
• menial
• servant
• steward

Examples of retainer in a Sentence

Noun (1)

knights being dressed for battle by their retainers

lifelong civil service retainers

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

New legal adviser also hired On Feb. 5, the law firm Nabors, Giblin and Nickerson submitted a letter terminating its retainer agreement for legal services with the city, creating a vacancy. —Verónica Egui Brito, Miami Herald, 5 June 2024

There is no dispute that the proof at trial shows that over the course of 2017 the Trump Organization paid Michael Cohen $420,000, consisting of checks, purporting to be a $35,000 monthly retainer for legal services. —Nick Akerman, New York Daily News, 30 May 2024

According to Cohen, Trump agreed to repay him a total of $420,000 in monthly installments of $35,000 and record the payments as legal retainers. —TIME, 17 May 2024

Trump later reimbursed Cohen in 2017 by making a series of $35,000 payments, labeled in business records as legal expenses pursuant to a retainer agreement. —Peter Charalambous, ABC News, 30 May 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun (2)

Middle English reteigner, literally, retention, from Anglo-French, from reteigner, verb

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1508, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun (2)

1767, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

retainer

1 of 2 noun

re·​tain·​er ri-ˈtā-nər 

: a fee paid (as to a lawyer) for advice or services or for a claim upon services in case of need

retainer

2 of 2 noun

1

: a servant or follower in a wealthy household

2

: one that retains

3

: a usually removable dental device used to hold teeth in correct position especially following orthodontic treatment (as with braces)

called also bite plate

Medical Definition

retainer

noun

re·​tain·​er ri-ˈtān-ər 

1

: the part of a dental replacement (as a bridge) by which it is made fast to adjacent natural teeth

2

: a dental appliance used to hold teeth in their correct position especially following orthodontic treatment

Legal Definition

retainer

noun

re·​tain·​er ri-ˈtā-nər 

1

: the act of a client by which the services of a lawyer are engaged

2

: a fee paid to a lawyer for advice or services or for a claim on services when needed

Etymology

Noun

Anglo-French retener act of engaging or employing, from retener, retenir to engage, retain