menial

UK: /ˈmiːniəl/ US: /ˈminiəl, ˈminjəl/ ,(mē′nē əl, mēn′yəl)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

me•ni•al /ˈminiəl, ˈminyəl/   adj. 

1. degrading;
   low or unimportant:
   menial work.

n. [countable]

2. a domestic servant.

me•ni•al•ly, adv. 

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

me•ni•al  (mē′nē əl, mēn′yəl), adj. 

1. lowly and sometimes degrading:
   menial work.
2. servile;
   submissive:
   menial attitudes.
3. pertaining to or suitable for domestic servants;
   humble:
   menial furnishings.

n. 

4. a domestic servant.
5. a servile person.

• Anglo-French me(i)nial. See meiny, -al¹
• Middle English meynyal 1350–1400

me′ni•al•ly, adv. 
Synonyms

• 2. fawning. See servile. 
• 4. attendant, underling, hireling, lackey.

Antonyms

• 1. dignified.
• 2. proud.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

menial / ˈmiːnɪəl/ adjective

1. consisting of or occupied with work requiring little skill, esp domestic duties such as cleaning
2. of, involving, or befitting servants
3. servile

noun

1. a domestic servant
2. a servile person

Etymology: 14th Century: from Anglo-Norman meignial, from Old French meinie household. See meiny