1
: a manservant having charge of the wines and liquors
2
: the chief male servant of a household who has charge of other employees, receives guests, directs the serving of meals, and performs various personal services
Examples of butler in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The jet set are flocking to the water as luxury expedition cruising becomes the hottest trend in luxury travel—cruising that involves intimate groups on elegant ships with fine wine, butlers, gastronomic meals, and plenty of space to spread out.
—
Katie Kelly Bell, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
Soap featured the character Benson, a butler, who was portrayed by Black actor Robert Guillaume and who had a superior intellect and cutting sense of humor.
—Time, 17 Sep. 2025
Of course, Parent Trap fans will remember the over-the-top handshake between the twin sisters Annie and Hallie (both played by Lindsay Lohan) and their butler Martin (Simon Kunz).
—Stephanie Wenger, PEOPLE, 17 Sep. 2025
In his new memoir, The Royal Insider , former royal butler and footman Paul Burrell made the claim that Queen Elizabeth was diagnosed with bone marrow cancer shortly before her death.
—Lea Veloso, StyleCaster, 14 Sep. 2025
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Katie Kelly Bell, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
Soap featured the character Benson, a butler, who was portrayed by Black actor Robert Guillaume and who had a superior intellect and cutting sense of humor.
—Time, 17 Sep. 2025
Of course, Parent Trap fans will remember the over-the-top handshake between the twin sisters Annie and Hallie (both played by Lindsay Lohan) and their butler Martin (Simon Kunz).
—Stephanie Wenger, PEOPLE, 17 Sep. 2025
In his new memoir, The Royal Insider , former royal butler and footman Paul Burrell made the claim that Queen Elizabeth was diagnosed with bone marrow cancer shortly before her death.
—Lea Veloso, StyleCaster, 14 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for butler
Cite this Entry
“Butler.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/butler. Accessed 21 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
butler
noun
but·ler
ˈbət-lər 
: a chief male household servant
Etymology
Middle English buteler "household servant in charge of wines," from early French butiller (same meaning), from botele "bottle," derived from Latin buttis "cask"
Biographical Definition
Butler 1 of 5
biographical name (1)
But·ler
ˈbət-lər
Benjamin Franklin 1818–1893 American general and politician
Butler
2 of 5biographical name (2)
Joseph 1692–1752 English theologian
Butler
3 of 5biographical name (3)
Nicholas Murray 1862–1947 American educator; president Columbia University (1901–45)
Butler
4 of 5biographical name (4)
Samuel 1612–1680 English satirical poet
Butler
5 of 5biographical name (5)
Samuel 1835–1902 English novelist and satirist
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