factotum
Americannoun
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a person, as a handyman or servant, employed to do all kinds of work around the house.
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any employee or official having many different responsibilities.
noun
Etymology
Origin of factotum
1560–70; < Medieval Latin, equivalent to Latin fac make, do (imperative of facere ) + tōtum, neuter of tōtus all
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Melody Butiu, who plays the Siegels’ Filipina nanny and indispensable factotum, has a readier place in our hearts for all that she has had to sacrifice to support her distant family.
From Los Angeles Times
During a chance encounter chauffeuring François Truffaut around, the master auteur told the desperate factotum that he had an eye for directing.
From Los Angeles Times
With a chemistry background, Jean assumed the role of winemaker, with Baker as general factotum.
From Seattle Times
The result, “The Factotum” — its title recalls the famous Rossini aria “Largo al factotum” — opens Feb. 3 at Lyric Opera of Chicago.
From New York Times
Edward Nelson, sounding handsome and polished, turns the Barber into an unusually compelling factotum.
From New York Times
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.
