barrister

American  

[bar-uh-ster] / ˈbær ə stər /

noun

Law.

• barristers
  plural

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.

2. Informal. any lawyer.

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barrister British  

/ ˈbærɪstə /

noun

1. Also called: barrister-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. a less common word for lawyer

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• barristerial
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• barristers
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of barrister

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

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Explanation

The Brits and Canadians prefer to say barrister instead of "lawyer," but they mean the same thing. A barrister is a person who goes to court on behalf of the defense or the prosecution. The image of the barrister — a lawyer who pleads cases in the higher, or what is called "superior," courts of Britain — is of a white-wigged gentleman wearing a long black gown over a dark suit. Now, everyone who is a barrister wears white wigs. Barristers are so named because they were literally "called to the bar," which means that they are able to practice law. Barristers are not the same as solicitors, who advise clients but only appear in Britain's lower courts.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

barrister barristers

The barrister said the defendant was a family man and a parent, with a number of health issues including a brain injury, epilepsy, anxiety and depression.

From BBC ● Oct. 31, 2026

Roxy had her own memorable moment on the show, when she clashed with crime writer and former barrister, Harriet Tyce, whose sights were – correctly – set on traitor Rachel Duffy.

From BBC ● Oct. 30, 2026

Prosecution barrister Damian Warburton said the complete atlas had been worth about £50,000 and the map alone could fetch £6,000 on the black market.

From BBC ● Oct. 22, 2026

Prosecuting barrister Lucy Organ told the court: ''This almost laughable incident demonstrates quite how far the defendant was willing to go in his deceit.''

From BBC ● Oct. 21, 2026

I learned an eclectic smattering of Commonwealth law from a traveling barrister too drunk or too pompous to realize he was lecturing an eight-year-old.

From "The Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss

The Attorney General, Ellie Reeves, referred their sentences to the Court of Appeal, with barristers for the government arguing that the original sentences did not "meet the justice of this terrible case".

From BBC ● Oct. 27, 2026

Despite being explicitly prevented from blaming any party for a death, hearings can often descend into a blame game, with barristers trying to save or sully an organisation's reputation.

From BBC ● Aug. 24, 2026

As part of the High Court trial in London, barristers for the car owners cited a report from the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air.

From BBC ● Jul. 10, 2026

Hair strand tests can play a central part in Family Court hearings to decide whether children should go into care, but some barristers have raised concerns over how the tests are presented and interpreted.

From BBC ● May 26, 2026

“One of those white wigs that British barristers plop on top of their heads when they are trying a case.”

From "Silent To The Bone" by E.L. Konigsburg

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