Factotum: meaning, pronunciation and examples
Factotum noun. An employee or servant who does all kinds of jobs.
How to say it
fak-TOH-tum/fakˈtəʊtəm/
3 syllables, stressed on the second (TOH).
Factotum in a sentence
Part secretary, part driver, part cook, Mrs Reed was the family’s indispensable factotum.
The gallery’s factotum hung the paintings, mended the lights and sold the tickets.
Similar and opposite
Similar:
- handyman
- dogsbody
- jack of all trades
- man Friday
Where factotum comes from
From Medieval Latin fac totum, do everything.
Test yourself
Which word fills the gap?
The gallery’s _____ hung the paintings, mended the lights and sold the tickets.
- malingerer
- factotum
- remuneration
Show the answer
factotum: The gallery’s factotum hung the paintings, mended the lights and sold the tickets.