lawyer

American  

[law-yer, loi-er] / ˈlɔ yər, ˈlɔɪ ər /

noun

1. a person whose profession is to represent clients in a court of law or to advise or act for clients in other legal matters.

2. New Testament. an interpreter of the Mosaic Law. Luke 14:3.

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verb (used without object)

1. to work as a lawyer; practice law.

verb (used with object)

1. to submit (a case, document, or the like) to a lawyer for examination, advice, clarification, etc.

verb phrase

1. lawyer up to hire a lawyer, especially when there is a perceived risk of being sued or charged with a crime.

   It’s time to lawyer up to protect yourself and your family.

lawyer British  

/ ˈlɔːjə, ˈlɔɪə /

noun

1. a member of the legal profession, esp a solicitor See also advocate barrister solicitor

2. a popular name for burbot

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Other Word Forms

• delawyer verb (used with object)
• lawyerlike adjective
• lawyerly adjective
• nonlawyer noun
• underlawyer noun
• unlawyerlike adjective
• unlawyerly adjective

Etymology

Origin of lawyer

First recorded in 1350–1400, lawyer is from the Middle English word lawyere. See law ¹, -ier ¹

Example Sentences

According to the family's lawyers, Irwin Mitchell, Khan moved to All Saints from another school, but his safeguarding and behaviour records were not requested or reviewed beforehand.

From BBC

Lemon said that after retaining a lawyer and volunteering to turn himself in to handle the matter without fanfare, he “never heard back from them.”

From Los Angeles Times

"You'll see lawyers, teachers, educator... entrepreneurs who have the ability to take a little bit of time off work."

From Barron's

Jean Rossi, a French business lawyer who has long been based in Poland, said he believed that "this miracle is primarily due to the Poles themselves".

From Barron's

Heaps’ defense lawyer was not informed of the note or of the communications, and the trial proceeded to a verdict.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• advocate
• counselor