solicitor general

American  

noun

plural

solicitors general

1. a law officer who maintains the rights of the state in suits affecting the public interest, next in rank to the attorney general.

2. the chief legal officer in some states.

3. (initial capital letters) the law officer of the U.S. government next below the Attorney General, having charge of appeals, as to the Supreme Court.

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Solicitor General British  

noun

1. (in Britain) the law officer of the Crown ranking next to the Attorney General (in Scotland to the Lord Advocate) and acting as his assistant

2. (in New Zealand) the government's chief lawyer: head of the Crown Law Office and prosecutor for the Crown

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Etymology

Origin of solicitor general

First recorded in 1525–35

Compare meaning

How does solicitor-general compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• solicitor general vs. attorney general

Example Sentences

The solicitor general sought to “expand” these “tiny” and “idiosyncratic” classes to cover a “big group” of immigrants today, Roberts noted.

From Slate • Apr. 1, 2026

Kise is a longtime Florida Republican power player who served as the state’s solicitor general and has argued before the U.S.

From Salon • Jan. 23, 2026

"Even if it's inadvertent or a mistake, it's quite a big mistake," said solicitor general D John Sauer, who was arguing the case for the administration.

From BBC • Jan. 21, 2026

“No court has ever explored those facts,” Justice Samuel Alito told Trump’s solicitor general, D. John Sauer.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 21, 2026

Mr. Joseph Hensley was appointed to the office of attorney general, and Mr. John Longworth to that of solicitor general, in place of Mr. Hensley.

From History of Prince Edward Island by Campbell, Duncan