retainer: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal
Quick answer
What does “retainer” mean?
A fee paid in advance to secure someone's services, especially a professional like a lawyer or consultant.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A fee paid in advance to secure someone's services, especially a professional like a lawyer or consultant.
1. An appliance worn in the mouth to hold teeth in position after orthodontic treatment. 2. A faithful servant or attendant, especially one who has been with a family for a long time. 3. A reduced sum paid to keep a property available for rent. 4. In a feudal context, a knight or soldier serving a lord.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage largely identical. The dental appliance sense is standard in both. 'Retainer' for a domestic servant is more archaic but more likely to appear in British historical contexts.
Connotations
In legal/business contexts, connotes a formal, ongoing professional relationship. In dental contexts, a routine post-braces device.
Frequency
Most frequent in legal and dental contexts in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “retainer” in a Sentence
pay [OBJECT] a retainerbe on a retainer to [PERSON/ORGANIZATION]put [OBJECT] on a retainer[OBJECT] wear/wears a retainerVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “retainer” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The firm was retained on a hefty monthly sum.
- She retains a QC for serious matters.
American English
- The company retained him as a consultant.
- We retained a famous architect for the project.
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- N/A (retainer is not used as a standard adjective).
American English
- N/A (retainer is not used as a standard adjective).
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
A monthly retainer ensures the marketing agency is available for our projects.
Academic
In medieval times, a retainer pledged military service in exchange for land.
Everyday
My orthodontist said I must wear my retainer every night.
Technical
The clear Essix retainer applies pressure via thermoformed plastic.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “retainer”
Strong
Neutral
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “retainer”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “retainer”
- Confusing 'retainer' (fee) with 'retention' (act of keeping). Misusing 'retainer' for a one-time consultation fee. Spelling: 'retainor' is incorrect.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. A salary is regular payment for an employee. A retainer is a fee, often regular, paid to an external professional or firm to secure their availability, and is usually separate from payment for specific work done.
Recommendations vary, but often full-time for several months post-braces, then nightly for many years, sometimes indefinitely, to prevent teeth from shifting.
Typically, no. It's a fee for availability, not a pre-payment for hours. Any unused portion might be applied to future work, but this depends on the specific contract.
A deposit is often refundable and held as security against damages or non-completion. A retainer is non-refundable compensation for reserving services or availability.
A fee paid in advance to secure someone's services, especially a professional like a lawyer or consultant.
Retainer is usually formal in register.
Retainer: in British English it is pronounced /rɪˈteɪnə(r)/, and in American English it is pronounced /rɪˈteɪnər/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “He's on a fat retainer (informal: receives a large regular fee)”
- “A family retainer (a long-serving domestic servant)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think RETAINER = RETAIN + -ER. You pay to RETAIN a lawyer's services (the -ER person). You wear it to RETAIN your straight teeth.
Conceptual Metaphor
SECURITY IS A HOLDING DEVICE (Financial security via a retainer fee; Physical position secured by a dental device).
Practice
Quiz
In a business context, what does a 'retainer' primarily refer to?