jurist
Americannoun
noun
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a person versed in the science of law, esp Roman or civil law
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a writer on legal subjects
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a student or graduate of law
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(in the US) a lawyer
Etymology
Origin of jurist
1475–85; < French juriste < Medieval Latin jūrist ( a ). See jus, -ist
Explanation
A jurist is someone who is an expert in details of the legal system. Sometimes the word jurist is used to refer specifically to a lawyer or judge. If you love the law, you might want to be a jurist one day. If you become a jurist, you'll be a scholar who has studied the details and theories of law. You might work as a newspaper's legal expert or a college professor. In the U.S., it's common to refer to a judge or another legal professional as a jurist. So you might describe the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court as the top jurist in the country. Jurist comes from the Latin ius, "a right or a law."
Vocabulary lists containing jurist
This Week In Words: May 10–16, 2020
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jur, jus, List 2
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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.
It exists to be the muscle behind the velayat-e faqih, the guardianship of the jurist.
From BBC • Mar. 2, 2026
Born on April 19, 1939, in the northeastern Iranian city of Mashhad, Khamenei was the second of eight children to Sayyed Javad Khamenei, a jurist, and Khadijeh Mirdamadi.
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 28, 2026
An experienced jurist known for his unconventional approach to the job, the judge’s age is nonetheless raising questions about his ability to oversee a sprawling matter that could drag on for years.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 11, 2026
Former professional footballer Claude Makelele also withdrew as a jurist, citing "unforeseen personal reasons" in a statement on social media.
From Barron's • Nov. 21, 2025
Pater Aquillus is a jurist, and his library is filled with everything from obscure law books to ancient Scholar tomes on mathematics.
From "An Ember in the Ashes" by Sabaa Tahir
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
