henchman
Americannoun
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an unscrupulous and ruthless subordinate, especially a criminal.
The leader of the gang went everywhere accompanied by his henchmen.
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an unscrupulous supporter or adherent of a political figure or cause, especially one motivated by the hope of personal gain.
Hitler and his henchmen.
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a trusted attendant, supporter, or follower.
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Obsolete. a squire or page.
noun
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a faithful attendant or supporter
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archaic a squire; page
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of henchman
1325–75; Middle English henchman, henshman, henksman, hengestman, Old English hengest stallion (cognate with German Hengst ) + man man
Vocabulary lists containing henchman
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.
Nicholas Mongiardo-Cooper’s Beadle Bamford, the judge’s henchman, has a malicious ebullience all his own.
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 3, 2026
In 1932 she reported on the libel trial brought against Hitler by a former Nazi henchman.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 16, 2026
His loyal henchman Meadows naturally denies that he ever said those things.
From Salon • Oct. 23, 2024
Still, at this trial, any prosecutor questioning Cohen will be formal in tone and manner, signaling distance from a man painted in testimony as an aggressive boor and henchman.
From Slate • May 8, 2024
“I’m leaving. Your henchman has terrified me completely. I shall never make the mistake of even passing by this vile pigsty.”
From "A Confederacy of Dunces" by John Kennedy Toole
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.
