C2noun & adjectiveAdvanced vocabulary

suppliant: meaning, pronunciation and examples

/ˈsʌpliənt/·SUP-lee-unt

Suppliant (noun) means a person who humbly begs someone powerful for something.

What does “suppliant” mean?

  1. 1

    nouna person who humbly begs someone powerful for something

    The suppliants knelt before the emperor.
  2. 2

    adjectiveasking for something in a humble, begging way

    She raised her hands in a suppliant gesture.

Suppliant at a glance

Part of speech
noun & adjective
CEFR level
C2 (proficient)
Pronunciation
/ˈsʌpliənt/ · SUP-lee-unt

How to use “suppliant” correctly

Literary and rare. “Supplicant” is the more common modern noun.

Synonyms (similar meaning)

  • petitioner
  • supplicant
  • pleading

Word family

  • supplicant
  • supplicate
  • supplication

“suppliant” is on these word lists

Learn these words next