King's Counsel

American

noun

British Law.

a body of barristers of a higher status who are specially appointed to be the crown's counsel, and who are permitted to plead inside the bar in the court.
a member of this body of barristers.
an honorary title conferred on a successful barrister when the sovereign is a king, originally for services in representing the crown but now as a mark of professional distinction.

King's Counsel British

noun

(when the sovereign is male) another name for Queen's Counsel

"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

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 comes as Farage revealed that he has taken specialist legal advice from a taxation King's Counsel on the purchase despite claiming he wasn't involved.

From BBC • Sep. 11, 2025

His solicitors, Grosvenor Law, said they had received written advice from a leading tax King's Counsel.

From BBC • Sep. 11, 2025

Red Bull Racing brought in independent investigator King’s Counsel, which found no wrongdoing by Horner.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 8, 2024

Six lawyers, including two elite UK King's Counsel lawyers alongside the original team, have prepared the case.

From Reuters • Mar. 28, 2023

King's Counsel: Did you also make an examination of the powder found in the gruel?

From Beggars on Horseback by Jesse, F. Tennyson (Fryniwyd Tennyson)

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