public servant

noun

Synonyms of public servantnext
: 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.
Career public servants are people, not pawns, and no one who has devoted their life to serving the American public should have their good name destroyed for partisan, political gain. — Rebecca Beitsch, The Hill, 13 Oct. 2026 Octavius Catto spent his formative years and subsequently launched his career as a public servant in Philadelphia. — Timothy Welbeck, The Conversation, 13 Oct. 2026 Both officers are public servants and city employees, and this profound loss and suffering are felt across our entire municipal workforce. — Ryan Hughes, CBS News, 12 Oct. 2026 Thank you, Jack Smith, for being a dedicated public servant and continuing to do the right thing to help protect American democracy, even after unfounded threats of prosecution. — Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 2 Oct. 2026 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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Public servant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/public%20servant. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

Kids Definition

public servant

noun
: a governmental official or employee
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