the chief male servant of a household, usually in charge of serving food, the care of silverware, etc.
a male servant having charge of the wines and liquors.
a tray or other receptacle used to serve drinks or food.
Benjamin Franklin, 1818–93, U.S. politician and a Union general in the Civil War.
Joseph, 1692–1752, English bishop, theologian, and author.
Nicholas Murray, 1862–1947, U.S. educator: president of Columbia University 1902–45; Nobel Peace Prize 1931.
Pierce, 1866–1939, U.S. jurist: associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court 1923–39.
Samuel, 1612–80, English poet.
Samuel, 1835–1902, English novelist, essayist, and satirist.
Smedley Darlington 1881–1940, U.S. Marine Corps general.
a city in W Pennsylvania.
Joseph . 1692–1752, English bishop and theologian, author of Analogy of Religion (1736)
Josephine ( Elizabeth ). 1828–1906, British social reformer, noted esp for her campaigns against state regulation of prostitution
Reg , full name Reginald Cotterell Butler . 1913–81, British metal sculptor; his works include The Unknown Political Prisoner (1953)
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)
Samuel . 1612–80, English poet and satirist; author of Hudibras (1663–78)
Samuel . 1835–1902, British novelist, noted for his satirical work Erewhon (1872) and his autobiographical novel The Way of All Flesh (1903)
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
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“I kind of think of myself as the butler of downtown,” said Hal Bastian, 65, who has lived in the neighborhood for three decades and is known to many as “Mr. Downtown L.A.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 28, 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
There, recent findings show, the enslaved cook and butler lived, and other slaves waited for orders.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 7, 2026
But there are also glimpses of a life of privilege, as the same email mentions she's in the south of France with the "perfect butler".
From BBC ● Feb. 3, 2026
Whoever got there first summoned up a super-snooty English accent: “Walls residence, the butler speaking, may I help you?” while the rest of us cracked up.
From "The Glass Castle" by Jeannette Walls
Kathryn Howard, who used Legacy after her 73-year-old partner Jonathan Butler died, told the court her "world fell apart all over again" when she learned his body had been left at the site.
From BBC ● Jul. 27, 2026
They couldn’t get out of the play-in tournament last season, when Curry played only 43 games and Butler played only 38.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 22, 2026
Soon after, they’d hear of proposed projects in Butler and Clinton Counties and encounter local and state officials who they felt weren’t listening.
From Salon ● Jul. 9, 2026
Butler remains in custody at the Harris County jail, according to court records.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 2, 2026
Butler held his tongue until they were aboard the Heathrow connection from Bangkok, then he had to ask.
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
They offer personalized service, in which white-coat butlers can help draw a scented bath, deliver hors d’oeuvres or arrange a private cocktail reception.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 18, 2026
A battalion of chefs, butlers and drivers catering to the smallest of whims.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 2, 2025
A new robot shop has opened in Beijing selling everything from mechanical butlers to human-like replicas of Albert Einstein.
From BBC ● Aug. 8, 2025
“The butlers searched all over the house, ma’am. They swore they didn’t see any mice.”
From "The Unseen Guest" by Maryrose Wood
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
