valet
Americannoun
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a male servant who attends to the personal needs of his male employer, as by taking care of clothing or the like; manservant.
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a man who is employed for cleaning and pressing, laundering, and similar services for patrons of a hotel, passengers on a ship, etc.
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an attendant who parks cars for patrons at a hotel, restaurant, etc.
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a stand or rack for holding coats, hats, etc.
verb (used with or without object)
noun
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French name: valet de chambre. a manservant who acts as personal attendant to his employer, looking after his clothing, serving his meals, etc
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a manservant who attends to the requirements of patrons in a hotel, passengers on board ship, etc; steward
verb
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to act as a valet for (a person)
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(tr) to clean the bodywork and interior of (a car) as a professional service
Other Word Forms
- unvaleted adjective
- valetless adjective
Etymology
Origin of valet
1560–70; < French; Middle French va ( s ) let squire, equivalent to vas- (< Medieval Latin vassus servant) + -let -let; vassal
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.
Employees and self-employed workers may deduct qualified tips they received in jobs that the IRS deems as “customarily and regularly receiving tips,” ranging from parking and valet attendants to hairdressers to plumbers.
From Barron's • Jan. 23, 2026
Among those amenities are 24/7 security, door attendants, valet parking, and front desk service—as well as fitness facilities, an outdoor pool, a steam room, and extra storage.
From MarketWatch • Nov. 21, 2025
During one spurt of construction, High Point offered free carwashes and valet service because the dust dirtied vehicles and the work limited parking.
From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 21, 2025
With the changes, Pitchford’s MCE is to gain control of castle operations, including its restaurant, bar, gift shop and valet parking.
From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 30, 2025
Overhearing a valet lamenting the lack of funds to create an alljockey baseball team, he jumped in.
From "Seabiscuit: An American Legend" by Laura Hillenbrand
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.
