public servant

noun

Definition of public servantnext
1
as in official
a person who holds a public office the new governor made a vow that he would always remember why he was called a public servant

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in civil servant
a worker in a government agency concerned that the new federal agency would just add another slew of public servants to the government payroll

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 public servant What many people don’t know is that an earlier and more obscure stint during the administration of President Gerald Ford shaped him as a public servant. — Paul Wachtel, The Conversation, 23 June 2026 Kean comes from a long line of public servants, stretching 250 years to the country’s founding when one of his ancestors became New Jersey’s first leader since independence. — Mike Catalini, Fortune, 30 June 2026 Americans are accustomed to showing wide deference to senior military leaders, treating them as dutiful public servants rather than possible enablers of presidential lawlessness. — Jon Duffy, Mercury News, 25 June 2026 Woods was charged in Jefferson County Court in January 2025 with forgery, attempting to influence a public servant, perjury, and cybercrime. — Alan Gionet, CBS News, 23 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for public servant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for public servant
  1. official
  2. civil servant
  3. officer
  4. clerk
  5. administrator
  6. employee
  7. worker
  8. bureaucrat
Noun
  • The agreement also didn't lead to market opportunities for the United States in Canada and Mexico in dairy and other sectors as was expected, officials said.
    — Joey Garrison, USA Today, 2 July 2026
  • The city said replacement parts have been ordered and officials hope to reopen the pool before the end of July.
    — Hannah Kliger, CBS News, 2 July 2026
Definition of official
Noun
  • The more Alois Hitler pushed him toward a civil servant career, the more Adolf aspired to become an artist.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 June 2026
  • Many other civil servants have thought through this process themselves.
    — Elizabeth Shackelford, Chicago Tribune, 26 June 2026
Definition of civil servant
Noun
  • His behavior under stress is dangerous to his officers and crew, and his authority is questioned.
    — Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 5 July 2026
  • Some relief workers are using donkeys and bulldozers to remove solid waste, according to Louise Wateridge, a communications officer for the UN’s children’s agency in the Middle East and North Africa.
    — Sana Noor Haq, CNN Money, 5 July 2026
Definition of officer
Noun
  • The city clerk is responsible for maintaining government records while assisting the mayor and City Council with administrative duties inside and outside council meetings.
    — Zaire Breedlove, Charlotte Observer, 3 July 2026
  • The state this year abolished the job of the New Orleans criminal court clerk — merging it with another court clerk position.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 3 July 2026
Definition of clerk
Noun
  • San Juan High School administrators could not be reached for comment Monday.
    — Reeti Malhotra July 6, Sacbee.com, 7 July 2026
  • The ‘College-Enrollment Death Spiral’ and College Athletics The merger of Ursuline and Gannon stems in part from the enrollment challenges that have become a focal point of higher ed administrators across the country.
    — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 6 July 2026
Definition of administrator
Noun
  • Many crew members are hired through third-party agencies with varying practices, and actual earnings can vary depending on the cruise line, the individual employee's experience level and other factors.
    — Nathan Diller, USA Today, 8 July 2026
  • Diaz’s attorney says that man was Oscar Villafranca, another employee of the taco stand.
    — James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2026
Definition of employee
Noun
  • Advocates viewed Cal/OSHA’S recognition of the detainees as workers as a victory that could pave the way for future labor rights fights at other detention centers in the state.
    — Andrea Castillo, Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2026
  • The women who get promoted aren’t always the hardest workers in the room.
    — Janice Gassam Asare, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026
Definition of worker
Noun
  • These incidents rarely appear in the statistics politicians and bureaucrats cite when assuring the public that downtown is moving in the right direction.
    — Jonathan Beaton, The Orlando Sentinel, 5 July 2026
  • Giving the president more direct control over who serves on those bodies has long been a goal of conservatives, who have objected to unelected bureaucrats wielding too much power with little accountability.
    — Devin Dwyer, ABC News, 29 June 2026
Definition of bureaucrat

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public schools
public servant
public servants
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Cite this Entry

“Public servant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/public%20servant. Accessed 9 Jul. 2026.

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