public servant

noun

: a government official or employee

Examples of public servant in a Sentence

the new governor vowed that he would always remember why he was called a public servant and not the people's master concerned that the new federal agency would just add another slew of public servants to the government payroll
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Three of the four people who died were firefighters and one was a public servant, according to the Yonhap news agency. Reuters, NBC news, 24 Mar. 2025 Mary is a dedicated public servant and Naperville’s current park board president, a position her fellow commissioners unanimously elected her to for three consecutive years. Naperville Sun, Chicago Tribune, 21 Mar. 2025 While there are bright spots within the agency with personnel who are talented and dedicated public servants, this is the exception rather than the rule. Dan Perry, Newsweek, 18 Mar. 2025 After California directed its public employees to work from home to limit the spread of COVID-19, the state paid those public servants stipends beginning October 2021 to help cover expenses workers needed to do their jobs remotely, such as the internet. William Melhado, Sacramento Bee, 11 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for public servant

Word History

First Known Use

1671, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of public servant was in 1671

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Cite this Entry

“Public servant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/public%20servant. Accessed 2 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

public servant

noun
: a governmental official or employee
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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