Definition

A loyal supporter or assistant, often involved in illegal activities or working for someone powerful.

Example

The villain's henchman carried out his orders without question.

Conversation

Did you see that new movie with the villain's henchman?

Yeah, he was pretty intimidating!

I thought it was interesting how loyal the henchman was to his boss.

Absolutely, it added a lot to the story.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Henchman is derived from the Middle English 'henchman' (meaning a servant or attendant), which itself comes from the Old English 'hengest' (meaning horse) and 'man' (meaning man). The term originally referred to a groom or stable boy, someone who served a knight or nobleman, often in a supportive role. Over time, it evolved to mean a loyal follower or assistant, particularly in a criminal context.

Memory Tip

Think of a 'man' ('man') who serves or assists ('hench') — a henchman is someone who is a loyal assistant or supporter.

Visually Confused Words