1. people who attend or serve at a royal court; members of a sovereign’s retinue
Usage: plural of courtier

Examples

• The king was surrounded by his loyal courtiers at the palace.
• Courtiers competed for the queen’s favor and attention.
• The elaborate ceremony required dozens of courtiers in formal dress.
• Many courtiers lived at Versailles during Louis XIV’s reign.
• The courtiers whispered gossip about palace intrigue.
• She studied the behavior of courtiers in medieval European courts.