barrister

American

[bar-uh-ster] / ˈbær ə stər /

noun

Law.

(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.
Informal. any lawyer.

barrister British

/ ˈbærɪstə /

noun

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
(in Canada) a lawyer who pleads in court
a less common word for lawyer

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

barristerial adjective

Etymology

Origin of barrister

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

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.

A former barrister, Turner was elected as an MP in 2010 and served in the shadow cabinet of former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn.

From BBC • Mar. 31, 2026

Sports law barrister Nick de Marco KC represented Leicester and Forest in their PSR cases.

From BBC • Mar. 18, 2026

However, his barrister Emma Fenn indicated he intended to plead not guilty to both counts at a crown court hearing set for 10 April.

From BBC • Mar. 13, 2026

"At no stage, did you go to the police and say that you got that wrong," said the barrister.

From BBC • Mar. 9, 2026

He’s sitting opposite, a newcomer, an interloper—a retired barrister with a square jaw, pitted nose, and great floppy ears.

From "Water for Elephants" by Sara Gruen

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023