attendant

[ uh-ten-duhnt ]

noun

1. a person who attends attend another, as to perform a service.

   Synonyms: servant, retainer, follower, comrade, companion, escort

2. Chiefly British. an usher or clerk.
3. a corollary or concomitant thing or quality.

   Synonyms: consequence, accompaniment

4. a person who is present, as at a meeting.

adjective

1. being present or in attendance; accompanying.
2. consequent; concomitant; associated; related: poverty and its attendant hardships.

   winter holidays and attendant parties; war and its attendant evils;

   poverty and its attendant hardships.

attendant

/ əˈtɛndənt /

noun

1. a person who accompanies or waits upon another
2. a person employed to assist, guide, or provide a service for others, esp for the general public

   a lavatory attendant

3. a person who is present
4. a logical consequence or natural accompaniment

   hatred is often an attendant of jealousy

adjective

1. being in attendance
2. associated; accompanying; related

   attendant problems

Other Words From

• at·tendant·ly adverb
• super·at·tendant noun adjective
• unat·tendant adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of attendant¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Middle French, present participle of attendre “to notice, await”; attend, -ant

Example Sentences

“I ran for my life,” said Tenayo, who is a home attendant for an autistic resident, but wants to transfer because of the crime.

From The Daily Beast

And despite the good scholarship the authors have managed to retain the buoyancy and upbeat air attendant on most comics.

From The Daily Beast

We remember that time a flight attendant told us at a barbecue that if the bell tones four times, things are serious.

From The Daily Beast

In 2009, the Court backed down from the broad rule for vehicle searches attendant to arrests.

From The Daily Beast

When that proved an inefficient tactic, he punched a flight attendant.

From The Daily Beast

The Minister pointed out to them the attendant difficulties, and referred them to the Prime Minister.

From Project Gutenberg

One morning Tom was awakened by his faithful attendant to resume his weary journey.

From Project Gutenberg

They laid out the work for the next morning, but did nothing practical toward erecting the wires and attendant parts that day.

From Project Gutenberg

The attendant stooped over the bed to ascertain, and nodded in the affirmative.

From Project Gutenberg

On this particular Sunday Tommy Splint, who was a regular attendant at the garden class, arrived late.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• aide
• assistant
• custodian
• helper
• nurse
• servant