sycophant

[ sik-uh-fuhnt, -fant, sahy-kuh- ]
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noun
  1. a self-seeking, servile flatterer; fawning parasite.

Origin of sycophant

1
First recorded in 1530–40; from Latin sȳcophanta, from Greek sȳkophántēs “informer,” from sŷko(n) “fig” + phan- (stem of phaínein “to show”) + -tēs, agent noun suffix

Other words for sycophant

Other words from sycophant

  • syc·o·phan·tic, syc·o·phan·ti·cal, syc·o·phant·ish, adjective
  • syc·o·phan·ti·cal·ly, syc·o·phant·ish·ly, adverb
  • syc·o·phant·ism, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

British Dictionary definitions for sycophant

sycophant

/ (ˈsɪkəfənt) /


noun
  1. a person who uses flattery to win favour from individuals wielding influence; toady

Origin of sycophant

1
C16: from Latin sӯcophanta, from Greek sukophantēs, literally: the person showing a fig, apparently referring to the fig sign used in making an accusation, from sukon fig + phainein to show; sense probably developed from ``accuser'' to ``informer, flatterer''

Derived forms of sycophant

  • sycophancy, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012