online vocabulary.com

Retainer - Meaning, Definition & English Examples

A retainer is a fee paid in advance to secure services, often for professionals like lawyers or consultants. It can also refer to a dental device that keeps teeth aligned after braces.

retainer

/**American phonetic transcription:** rɪˈteɪnər/ /**British phonetic transcription:** rɪˈteɪnə/

Definition:

A fee or person retained for services, such as a lawyer or dental device.

Synonyms:

deposit, fee, servant, keeper, advance

Part of Speech:

noun

Antonyms:

refund, discharge

Common Collocations:

legal retainer, monthly retainer, dental retainer, paid retainer, client retainer

Derivatives:

retainership, retainable

Usage Tips:

Use "retainer" for ongoing service fees or devices keeping things in place (e.g., teeth).

Common Phrases:

on retainer, pay a retainer, lose one's retainer

Etymology:

From Old French *retenir*, meaning "to retain," from Latin *retinēre* ("hold back").

Examples:

  • 1. She paid a retainer to her lawyer monthly.
  • 2. The orthodontist fitted him with a clear plastic retainer.
  • 3. The consultant works on a $5,000 annual retainer.
  • 4. He lost his dental retainer after lunch.

MORE VOCABULARY LISTS