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Sycophant

Noun (countable); plural: sycophants

IPA /ˈsɪkəfænt/

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Meaning in plain English

A person who flatters someone powerful or influential in order to gain favour or an advantage. Sycophant is a strongly critical word; ordinary kindness, respect or sincere praise does not by itself make someone a sycophant.

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Pronunciation

Sycophant/ˈsɪkəfænt/

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  1. Someone powerful can offer a favour

  2. A person flatters them for advantage

A sycophant uses flattery to gain favour, rather than offering sincere praise.

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  1. The fictional king surrounded himself with sycophants who praised every decision to win rewards.
  2. The manager asked for honest feedback because she wanted advisers, not sycophants.

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A person who flatters someone powerful or influential in order to gain favour or an advantage.
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Sycophant — A person who flatters someone powerful or influential in order to gain favour or an advantage. Sycophant is a strongly critical word; ordinary kindness, respect or sincere praise does not by itself make someone a sycophant.

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A person who flatters someone powerful or influential in order to gain favour or an advantage. Sycophant is a strongly critical word; ordinary kindness, respect or sincere praise does not by itself make someone a sycophant.

Compare: The fictional king surrounded himself with sycophants who praised every decision to win rewards.

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Word origin

English borrowed the word through Latin from Greek sykophantes, associated with a slanderer or accuser. Its later English meaning developed towards self-interested flattery. The story behind the Greek word’s connection with figs is disputed; it should not be presented as settled history. Reference: Merriam-Webster, sycophant.

Did you know?

Use “a sycophant” for one person and “sycophants” for several. Sycophantic is an adjective, as in “sycophantic praise”; sycophancy is the noun for the behaviour. A flatterer offers excessive praise, while sycophant particularly suggests doing so to gain favour.

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Sycophant

/ˈsɪkəfænt/ (Noun (countable); plural: sycophants)

“Usage check: “The speech was sycophantic” describes the speech; “He was a sycophant” labels a person. Because the label makes a strong judgement about motive, use it carefully. Pronunciation guide: the first syllable is stressed.”

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