lackey

1 of 2

noun

lack·ey ˈla-kē

plural lackeys

: footman sense 2, servant

: someone who does menial tasks or runs errands for another

: a servile follower : toady

lackey

2 of 2

verb

lackeyed; lackeying

intransitive verb

archaic : to serve as a lackey : toady

transitive verb

: to wait upon or serve obsequiously

Example Sentences

Noun He was nothing but a spineless lackey of the establishment. a celebrity surrounded by his lackeys

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Warnock was also on the defensive during the debate, as Walker painted him as not doing enough to tame high inflation and as a lackey for President Joe Biden, whose approval ratings in the state are low.

Natalie Neysa Alund, USA TODAY, 2 Nov. 2022 So somebody is going to have a hard time trying to paint me as a Trump lackey.

Erin Jensen, USA TODAY, 4 Oct. 2022 Agent Franklin could just be a S.W.O.R.D. lackey sent in to try to get in touch with Wanda.

Julia Alexander, The Verge, 29 Jan. 2021 Matthew Macfadyen as Shiv’s fragile yet conniving husband Tom; Nicholas Braun as his lackey, Greg; and J. Smith-Cameron’s Gerri, who remains in place as interim CEO.

Radhika Seth, Vogue, 28 June 2022 Even the new characters — notably Mamoudou Athie’s corporate lackey and DeWanda Wise’s world-weary pilot — are stock archetypes borrowed from the Pop Culture 101 stockpile.

David Fear, Rolling Stone, 8 June 2022 Only to be told by a lackey on my way out that Cannon had sold the exact same package to our U.K. competitor.

Angus Finney, Variety, 10 May 2022 Mulvaney, a long-time Republican functionary, distinguished himself during his tenure in the administration as a loyal Trump lackey.

Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 31 Mar. 2022 Neil Maskell gives a riveting performance as the title character, a mob lackey and loving father who goes after his former boss and father-in-law Norm (David Hayman) when the old man interferes with Bull’s attempt to take custody of his son.

Noel Murray, Los Angeles Times, 1 Apr. 2022

Verb

As Nixon lackey Jeb Magruder in Starz's Gaslit, and doting fangelyne/personal assistant Rick Krause in Peacock's Angelyne.

Kristen Baldwin, EW.com, 21 June 2022 As Nixon lackey Jeb Magruder in Starz's Gaslit, and doting fangelyne/personal assistant Rick Krause in Peacock's Angelyne.

Kristen Baldwin, EW.com, 21 June 2022 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'lackey.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.