# lackey

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈlæ.ki/ · frequency rank #34,153

## Definitions
1. A footman, a liveried male servant.
2. A fawning, servile follower.

## Etymology
Borrowed from Middle French laquais, which is probably (via Old Occitan lacai?) from Spanish lacayo, itself perhaps from Italian lacchè and Greek λακές (lakés), from Turkish ulak. Another possibility is through French, from Catalan alacay, from Arabic الْقَائِد (al-qāʔid). See French laquais.

## Easily confused with
- **lake** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/lackey-vs-lake)
- **lacy** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/lackey-vs-lacy)
- **lucky** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/lackey-vs-lucky)
- **lakes** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/lackey-vs-lakes)
- **lacks** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/lackey-vs-lacks)
- **Locke** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/lackey-vs-locke)
- **laker** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/lackey-vs-laker)
- **lanky** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/lackey-vs-lanky)
- **Laney** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/lackey-vs-laney)
- **locked** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/lackey-vs-locked)
- **locker** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/lackey-vs-locker)
- **licked** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/lackey-vs-licked)
- **locket** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/lackey-vs-locket)
- **lowkey** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/lackey-vs-lowkey)
- **lack** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/lack-vs-lackey)
- **lace** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/lace-vs-lackey)
- **laced** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/laced-vs-lackey)
- **Lacey** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/lacey-vs-lackey)
- **laces** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/laces-vs-lackey)
- **lacked** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/lacked-vs-lackey)

## Common misspellings (9)
`alckey`, `lacckey`, `laceky`, `lackeyy`, `lackkey`, `lackye`, `lakcey`, `lcakey`, `llackey`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/lackey