From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishretainerre‧tain‧er /rɪˈteɪnə $ -ər/ AWL noun [countable] 1 SCLPAY FORan amount of money paid to someone, especially a lawyer, so that they will continue to work for you in the future2 DHBF British English a reduced amount of rent that you pay for a room, flat etc when you are not there, so that it will still be available when you return3 American English a plastic and wire object that you wear in your mouth to make your teeth stay straight SYN brace British English4 old use a servant
Examples from the Corpus
retainer• Half of outside directors' annual retainers, moreover, would be paid in stock.• Alan tells Jody she can hire him for a five-hundred-dollar retainer.• Each vied with others in the number of his retainers, the magnificence of his robes and accoutrements.• They are reclusive and idiosyncratic, dwelling in exquisite mansions far from each other with their families and a select band of retainers.• Control may also be achieved through resource management, such as social insurance schemes or payment of retainers or fees for service.• Gooseneck found out about it through a retired old retainer who lived in the area.• Insurance companies keep the finest legal talent on retainer.From Longman Business Dictionaryretainerre‧tain‧er /rɪˈteɪnə-ər/ noun [countable]FINANCE money paid to someone such as a lawyer so that they will continue to work for you in the futureDirectors received £550 for each board meeting and an annual retainer of £10,000.Mr. Young ison retainer to (=receiving a retainer from) an international engineering firm. 