attorney
Americannoun
plural
attorneys-
a lawyer; attorney-at-law.
-
an attorney-in-fact; agent.
noun
-
a person legally appointed or empowered to act for another
-
a lawyer qualified to represent clients in legal proceedings
-
a solicitor
Other Word Forms
- attorneyship noun
- subattorney noun
- subattorneyship noun
Etymology
Origin of attorney
1250–1300; Middle English < Anglo-French attourne literally, “(one who is) turned to,” i.e., “(one who is) appointed,” past participle of attourner “to attorn ”
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“I made history as the first woman ever to be fired as attorney general,” she said.
From Salon • Apr. 5, 2026
Tinsley, the Spivey family’s attorney, asked Tamasi during a civil court hearing in February.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 5, 2026
In other jurisdictions, members of the federal bench have exercised their authority to appoint an interim U.S. attorney.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 4, 2026
With no one above him in the office, that title leaves Essayli as the de facto U.S. attorney.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 4, 2026
The reports noted that the attorney Vaughan had been eager to help the private eyes.
From "Killers of the Flower Moon" by David Grann
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
