servility: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Formal
Quick answer
What does “servility” mean?
Excessive willingness to serve or please someone, behaving in a submissive and obsequious manner.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Excessive willingness to serve or please someone, behaving in a submissive and obsequious manner.
A state or quality of being servile, characterized by an absence of independence, dignity, or self-respect; fawning submissiveness.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in definition or usage. Minor variations in associated vocabulary (e.g., 'toadying' in UK vs. 'bootlicking' in US are similar in concept).
Connotations
Universally negative, implying weakness and lack of principle. In both cultures, it contradicts values of individualism and self-respect.
Frequency
Low frequency in both varieties, used primarily in formal writing, political/ social criticism, and academic discourse.
Grammar
How to Use “servility” in a Sentence
servility towards [person/authority]servility of [person/group]with servilityVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “servility” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He servilely agreed with every point the manager made.
- They are expected to servile their superiors.
American English
- He servilely agreed with every point the boss made.
- The courtiers serviled before the king.
adverb
British English
- The assistant nodded servilely throughout the meeting.
American English
- He smiled servilely, hoping for a favor.
adjective
British English
- His servile attitude was embarrassing to watch.
- They lived in servile dependence on the landlord.
American English
- Her servile flattery made everyone uncomfortable.
- He rejected the servile role assigned to him.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Critiquing a corporate culture where employees are expected to show unquestioning obedience to superiors.
Academic
Analyzing power dynamics in historical, sociological, or political texts (e.g., 'the servility of the colonial subjects').
Everyday
Rare in casual conversation. Might be used to strongly criticise someone's overly fawning behaviour.
Technical
Not typically used in STEM fields. Relevant in political science, history, sociology, and critical theory.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “servility”
Strong
Neutral
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “servility”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “servility”
- Misspelling as 'servililty' or 'servilaty'.
- Using it to mean simply 'providing a service'.
- Confusing with 'servitude' (which is about bondage, not behavioural attitude).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Politeness and respect maintain dignity for both parties. Servility is excessive, self-abasing, and implies a loss of one's own dignity to gain favour or avoid displeasure.
They are very close synonyms. 'Servility' emphasises the submissive, low-status behaviour itself. 'Sycophancy' often emphasises the insincere flattery and praise given by a servile person (a sycophant) to gain advantage.
Extremely rarely. It is almost universally a pejorative term in modern English, criticising the behaviour and often the social structures that encourage it.
The adjective is 'servile' (/ˈsɜː.vaɪl/ in UK, /ˈsɝː.vəl/ in US). It describes a person or behaviour showing servility.
Excessive willingness to serve or please someone, behaving in a submissive and obsequious manner.
Servility is usually formal in register.
Servility: in British English it is pronounced /sɜːˈvɪl.ə.ti/, and in American English it is pronounced /sɝːˈvɪl.ə.t̬i/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “bow and scrape (denotes servile behaviour)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a SERVant with low cIVILITY. A servant with no civility or self-respect shows SERVILITY.
Conceptual Metaphor
SERVILITY IS DOWN / LOW STATUS (e.g., grovelling, bowing down, being beneath someone).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following scenarios best exemplifies 'servility'?