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• butler
  butler

  noun

  the chief male servant of a household, usually in charge of serving food, the care of silverware, etc.
• Butler
  Butler

  noun

  Benjamin Franklin, 1818–93, U.S. politician and a Union general in the Civil War.

butler

¹ American  

[buht-ler] / ˈbʌt lər /

noun

• butlers
  plural

1. the chief male servant of a household, usually in charge of serving food, the care of silverware, etc.

2. a male servant having charge of the wines and liquors.

3. a tray or other receptacle used to serve drinks or food.

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verb (used with object)

1. to serve (drinks, hors d’oeuvres, etc.) by walking around among guests.

   Our waitstaff will butler cocktails on silver trays. The butlered appetizers are all gluten-free.

Butler ² American  

[buht-ler] / ˈbʌt lər /

noun

1. Benjamin Franklin, 1818–93, U.S. politician and a Union general in the Civil War.

2. Joseph, 1692–1752, English bishop, theologian, and author.

3. Nicholas Murray, 1862–1947, U.S. educator: president of Columbia University 1902–45; Nobel Peace Prize 1931.

4. Pierce, 1866–1939, U.S. jurist: associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court 1923–39.

5. Samuel, 1612–80, English poet.

6. Samuel, 1835–1902, English novelist, essayist, and satirist.

7. Smedley Darlington 1881–1940, U.S. Marine Corps general.

8. a city in W Pennsylvania.

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Butler ¹ British  

/ ˈbʌtlə /

noun

1. Joseph . 1692–1752, English bishop and theologian, author of Analogy of Religion (1736)

2. Josephine ( Elizabeth ). 1828–1906, British social reformer, noted esp for her campaigns against state regulation of prostitution

3. Reg , full name Reginald Cotterell Butler . 1913–81, British metal sculptor; his works include The Unknown Political Prisoner (1953)

4. R ( ichard ) A ( usten ), Baron Butler of Saffron Walden, known as Rab Butler . 1902–82, British Conservative politician: Chancellor of the Exchequer (1951–55); Home Secretary (1957–62); Foreign Secretary (1963–64)

5. Samuel . 1612–80, English poet and satirist; author of Hudibras (1663–78)

6. Samuel . 1835–1902, British novelist, noted for his satirical work Erewhon (1872) and his autobiographical novel The Way of All Flesh (1903)

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butler ² British  

/ ˈbʌtlə /

noun

1. the male servant of a household in charge of the wines, table, etc: usually the head servant

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• butlership
  noun
• underbutler
  noun
• butlerlike
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• butlers
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of butler

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English buteler, from Anglo-French butuiller, Old French bouteillier, from Medieval Latin butticulārius, derivative of butticula ; see bottle ¹, -er ², -ier ²

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

butler Butler butlers

Hopkins’ voice, still deeply familiar as some of film’s most famous characters, including the serial killer Hannibal Lecter and the English butler, James Stevens, from “Remains of the Day,” now has a weathered rasp.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 11, 2026

Roth’s assistant, named Alfred after the butler from “Batman,” is dry, direct and has strong opinions.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 1, 2026

He tells me the apartment comes with a butler.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 18, 2026

"We arrange everything for them: flowers, candles, photographer, dinner with a private butler," said Melanie Tessier, its guest relations manager.

From Barron's ● Feb. 12, 2026

It would seem there is a whole dimension to the question 'what is a "great" butler?'

From "The Remains of the Day" by Kazuo Ishiguro

Waterford City and County Council said facilities and refreshments were available at Butler Community Centre in St John's Park for anyone affected by the fire.

From BBC ● Oct. 13, 2026

Stephen Butler, a bar owner in Naha, acknowledged that "it does not look good for the rest of us that are here, that want to be here peacefully and enjoy the culture".

From Barron's ● Oct. 11, 2026

Aside from questions of law, a jury “could look at some defendants quite sympathetically,” said Georgetown law professor Paul Butler, a former federal prosecutor.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 9, 2026

Isaac Butler analyzes Pattinson’s evolution from teen heartthrob to oddball star.

From Slate ● Sep. 30, 2026

Butler and Juliet kept nodding, while still looking thoroughly mystified.

From "Artemis Fowl" by Eoin Colfer

The investor story is not robot butlers or science-fiction spectacle — it is production costs.

From MarketWatch ● May 27, 2026

Throughout the performance, white mask-clad butlers guide audiences to their destinations.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 2, 2026

A battalion of chefs, butlers and drivers catering to the smallest of whims.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 2, 2025

Some offer "ski butlers" to ferry guests to and from the slopes, carry the skis, and even help put on their boots.

From BBC ● Mar. 2, 2025

I remember seeing very few people upstairs beyond the butlers, who were strangers to me.

From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama

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