Servant vs Server

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

 ServantServer
MeaningA person who works for another person and helps with tasks.A person or machine that provides services, especially food or data.
CEFR levelB1-
Part of speechnoun
Usage notesUsed in both formal and informal contexts. Traditionally refers to someone employed in domestic tasks, but can also imply servitude in other jobs. Less common in modern language for paid help.Used in both restaurant settings for food servers and in tech for data servers. In restaurants, it's polite to say 'server' instead of 'waiter/waitress' to be gender-neutral. In tech, 'server' usually refers to a computer that manages network resources.

Frequently asked questions: Servant vs Server

What's the difference between "Servant" and "Server"?

"Servant" means: A person who works for another person and helps with tasks. "Server" means: A person or machine that provides services, especially food or data.

When should I use "Servant" and "Server"?

They can all be used in everyday English.

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