lawyer

[ law-yer, loi-er ]

/ ˈlɔ yər, ˈlɔɪ ər /

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See synonyms for: lawyer / lawyers on Thesaurus.com

noun

a person whose profession is to represent clients in a court of law or to advise or act for clients in other legal matters.

New Testament. an interpreter of the Mosaic Law. Luke 14:3.

verb (used without object)

to work as a lawyer; practice law.

verb (used with object)

to submit (a case, document, or the like) to a lawyer for examination, advice, clarification, etc.

Verb Phrases

lawyer up, Informal. to hire a lawyer, especially when there is a perceived risk of being sued or charged with a crime: It’s time to lawyer up to protect yourself and your family.

QUIZ

THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?

Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

Question 1 of 7

In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of lawyer

First recorded in 1350–1400, lawyer is from the Middle English word lawyere. See law¹, -ier¹

OTHER WORDS FROM lawyer

law·yer·like, law·yer·ly, adjectivede·law·yer, verb (used with object)non·law·yer, nounun·der·law·yer, noun

un·law·yer·like, adjectiveun·law·yer·ly, adjective

Words nearby lawyer

law stationer, lawsuit, law term, Lawton, law unto oneself, lawyer, lawyering, lawyer's wig, lawyer vine, lax, Laxalt

How to use lawyer in a sentence

At least one other woman was deported after a guard assaulted her, detainees told lawyers.
ICE Deported a Woman Who Accused Guards of Sexual Assault While the Feds Were Still Investigating the Incident|by Lomi Kriel|September 15, 2020|ProPublica
Pop by their booth or sign up here to reserve some time with one of their industry-renowned startup lawyers.
A user’s guide to Disrupt 2020|Emma Comeau|September 11, 2020|TechCrunch
Facebook is firing up its lawyers to try to block EU regulators from forcing it to suspend transatlantic data transfers in the wake of a landmark ruling by Europe’s top court this summer.
Facebook seeks fresh legal delay to block order to suspend its transatlantic data transfers|Natasha Lomas|September 11, 2020|TechCrunch
He paid $193 for the ticket, not counting $35 more in fees, according to emails exchanged between him and his lawyer at the time.
Those Ticketed for Seditious Language Say Their Only Crime Was Talking Back|Kate Nucci|September 9, 2020|Voice of San Diego

The investigation, which has been underway for more than a year, was revealed publicly in a recent Intuit filing in which the company’s lawyers appealed to the commission to limit the scope of its investigation.
The FTC Is Investigating Intuit Over TurboTax Practices|by Justin Elliott|September 8, 2020|ProPublica
He first rose to prominence as a lawyer in Queens, who settled a boiling racial dispute over public housing in Forest Hills.
Mario Cuomo: An OK Governor, but a Far Better Person|Michael Tomasky|January 2, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Sabrine is a trained lawyer, likely a helpful quality when your task is to push politicians.
A Sunni-Shia Love Story Imperiled by al Qaeda|Ruth Michaelson|December 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
As the director of Freedom Now, I hold Intigam Aliyev in high esteem and have long respected his work as a human-rights lawyer.
Behind Bars for the Holidays: 11 Political Prisoners We Want to See Free In 2015|Movements.Org|December 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
His court-appointed lawyer was drinking a quart of liquor per day.
How the U.S. Justice System Screws Prisoners with Disabilities|Elizabeth Picciuto|December 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
“At worst, Eric picked up a garbage can, was told by police to put it down, and did,” his lawyer, Martin Stoler, insisted.
Protesters Slimed This Good Samaritan Cop|Michael Daly|December 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The sharpened faculties have something of a lawyer's quickness in detecting a flaw in the indictment.
Children's Ways|James Sully
Sebastian Brandt died; counsellor of Strassburg, a lawyer, and author of a curious poem.
The Every Day Book of History and Chronology|Joel Munsell
But a lawyer who needed the wherewithal finally condescended to risk the task, and into it he plunged.
The Homesteader|Oscar Micheaux
"Fortunate," the Reverend repeated, thoughtfully, and looking up found the lawyer's eyes upon him.
The Homesteader|Oscar Micheaux
If a client goes to a lawyer for advice the first thing the lawyer asks him to do is to make a clean breast of it.
Gallipoli Diary, Volume I|Ian Hamilton

British Dictionary definitions for lawyer

lawyer

/ (ˈlɔːjə, ˈlɔɪə) /

noun

a member of the legal profession, esp a solicitorSee also advocate, barrister, solicitor

a popular name for burbot

Word Origin for lawyer

C14: from law 1

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

lawyer

Origin of lawyer

OTHER WORDS FROM lawyer

Words nearby lawyer

Words related to lawyer

How to use lawyer in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for lawyer

Word Origin for lawyer