attorney

[uh-tur-nee]

noun

plural

attorneys 

1. a lawyer; attorney-at-law.

2. an attorney-in-fact; agent.

attorney

/ əˈtɜːnɪ /

noun

1. a person legally appointed or empowered to act for another

2. a lawyer qualified to represent clients in legal proceedings

3. a solicitor

Other Word Forms

• attorneyship noun
• subattorney noun
• subattorneyship noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of attorney¹

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 ”

Word History and Origins

Origin of attorney¹

C14: from Old French atourné, from atourner to direct to; see _attorn

Example Sentences

U.S. attorneys typically must be nominated and then confirmed by the Senate.

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The Swiss attorney general’s office said it charged an unnamed female compliance officer in relation to $7.9 million in payments that she allowed to enter the bank.

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He and my mom made a will online that they notarized a few years ago, but I’ve been meaning to get a real elder-care attorney to make a new will or trust.

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A former ICE official, who asked not to be named out of fear of retaliation, said that in prior years the U.S. attorney’s office “didn’t prosecute hardly anybody” for assault — unless the interaction turned violent.

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R.V. is among what immigration attorneys describe as an escalating trend: some immigrants who win protection from deportation to their home countries are being detained indefinitely.

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