retainer

noun

ri-ˈtā-nər How to pronounce retainer (audio)
Definition of retainernext
1
as in servant
a person hired to perform household or personal services knights being dressed for battle by their retainers

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in employee
one who works for another for wages or a salary lifelong civil service retainers

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of retainer My primary revenue streams include [list current income sources, e.g., coaching, digital products, memberships, courses, speaking, sponsorships, etc.], and my clients typically pay [upfront, on retainer, invoiced with X-day terms, etc.]. — Alejandra Rojas, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2025 While some commenters on Instagram expressed surprise at the idea of wearing retainers indefinitely or stories about how their own teeth have stayed aligned despite binning their retainers years ago, others shared their experiences of teeth shifting after discontinuing use. — Mark Joseph, Newsweek, 24 Feb. 2025 Earlier this year, Gersh announced the signing of two such retainer clients: Newton Golf and Slingshot. — Katcy Stephan, Variety, 27 Jan. 2025 In 1959 Playboy put him on a $500-a-month retainer and magazine founder Hugh Hefner personally edited his cartoons. — Elaine Woo, Los Angeles Times, 21 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for retainer
Recent Examples of Synonyms for retainer
  1. servant
  2. employee
  3. maid
  4. worker
Noun
  • Son Heung-min has been a tremendous servant to the club, but at 32, his influence appears to be waning.
    — Robert Kidd, Forbes.com, 30 Mar. 2025
  • Launched in 2010 from creator Julian Fellowes, the original Downton Abbey series ran through 2015 on the British network ITV and on PBS in America, and followed the lives of the aristocratic Crawley family and their team of servants at their Yorkshire estate in 1912.
    — EW.com, EW.com, 26 Mar. 2025
Definition of servant
Noun
  • Narciso Gallardo Fernandez, 30, is accused of shooting a Walgreens employee, Erick Velasquez, 34, earlier this week, the Madera Police Department told USA Today.
    — Lesley Cosme Torres, People.com, 3 Apr. 2025
  • When an employee misses the mark, avoid making assumptions about their capabilities or motivation.
    — Jodie Cook, Forbes.com, 3 Apr. 2025
Definition of employee
Noun
  • He’s shown sitting in an armchair next to his similarly dressed daughter, who is giving him a handful of flowers; just behind them is a maid placing a basket of fruit.
    — Francesca Aton, ARTnews.com, 24 Mar. 2025
  • At the time of her killing, Curran was working part time as a maid at the local Colonial Motor Inn, which, according to VTDigger, is located near Bundy’s birthplace in Burlington.
    — Sean Neumann, People.com, 23 Mar. 2025
Definition of maid
Noun
  • The president justified the decision by saying the duty fees would spur automakers to build more vehicles in America, and, in the process, create more jobs for the country’s workers.
    — Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 4 Apr. 2025
  • Nationwide, 1 in 4 direct care workers are immigrants, according to a policy brief from PHI, an advocacy group for elder care and disability service workers.
    — Mercedes Vigon, The Conversation, 4 Apr. 2025
Definition of worker

Browse Nearby Words

retained
retainer
retainers
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Cite this Entry

“Retainer.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/retainer. Accessed 13 Apr. 2025.

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Nglish: Translation of retainer for Spanish Speakers

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