barrister

[ bar-uh-ster ]

noun

, Law.

1. (in England) a lawyer who is a member of one of the Inns of Court and who has the privilege of pleading in the higher courts. Compare solicitor ( def 4 ).
2. Informal. any lawyer.

barrister

/ ˈbærɪstə /

noun

1. See counsel, advocate, solicitor
   Also calledbarrister-at-law (in England) a lawyer who has been called to the bar and is qualified to plead in the higher courts Compare solicitor See also advocate counsel
2. (in Canada) a lawyer who pleads in court
3. See lawyer
   a less common word for lawyer

Other Words From

• bar·ris·te·ri·al [bar-, uh, -, steer, -ee-, uh, l], adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of barrister¹

1535–45; derivative of bar ¹, perhaps after obsolete legister lawyer or minister

Word History and Origins

Origin of barrister¹

C16: from bar ¹

Example Sentences

In 1979, Andrew’s Alternative Miss World contest fought off legal action from another event with the help of a budding young defense barrister – future British Prime Minister Tony Blair.

From Washington Blade

Alamuddin was invited to become a barrister, an elite group of British lawyers, in 2010.

From The Daily Beast

The dean told him face to face that Africans lacked the innate skills necessary to become a barrister.

From The Daily Beast

It tells the story a British barrister, a criminal lawyer, in mid-life crisis.

From The Daily Beast

Cherie Blair is a leading international barrister specializing in human-rights law.

From The Daily Beast

The founder, Motilal Nehru, an Anglophile barrister, was a liberal member of the Indian nationalist movement.

From The Daily Beast

From the dinner they proceeded to another place or two; and on getting home, towards one in the morning, there was the barrister.

From Project Gutenberg

"I never had a letter in my life but I turned it over to make sure," observed the more careful barrister.

From Project Gutenberg

Here—stop and look—is the epitaph of one, a considerable fellow in his day, a barrister of the Middle Temple.

From Project Gutenberg

He sent the barrister into the drawing room, went upstairs for Anne, and brought her in on his arm.

From Project Gutenberg

To the barrister's surprise, a well-dressed and really rather gentlemanly man entered.

From Project Gutenberg