lawyer

[ law-yer, loi-er ]

/ ˈlɔ yər, ˈlɔɪ ər /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR lawyer 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.

QUIZZES

CAN YOU GUESS THESE WORDS FROM AROUND THE US?

American English is not always as it appears to be ... get to know regional words in this quiz!

Question 1 of 10

A bet is synonymous with a wager, but what does it mean in New York?

Often it means something is impossible.

It’s another way to agree with someone.

It serves as an apology.

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

Example sentences from the Web for lawyer

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
“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
Another step is to require a lawyer or advocate present during questioning of people with ID.
How the U.S. Justice System Screws Prisoners with Disabilities|Elizabeth Picciuto|December 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Case in point: when Loertscher was brought to court in Wisconsin, her 14-week-old fetus was granted a lawyer, but she was not.
States Slap Pregnant Women With Harsher Jail Sentences|Emily Shire|December 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Jackson declined to comment on the case, saying it was at the behest of his lawyer.
Prof: MIT Hospitalized Me For Ferguson Tweets|Nina Strochlic|December 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
With a shudder of disgust the lawyer went into the dining room and closed the door into the kitchen.
The Troll Garden and Selected Stories|Willa Cather
I want you to come ashore with me and find out for yourself from my lawyer that you can depend on the money.
The White Blackbird|Hudson Douglas
He was a lawyer and knew the general inappropriateness and inadmissibility of a leading question.
The Storm Centre|Charles Egbert Craddock
"Always providing Lieutenant Fraser consents to the arrangement," the lawyer added smoothly.
A Texas Ranger|William MacLeod Raine
Leaving the Captain and the veteran as temporary guards, he sallied forth, followed by the lawyer and the two parsons.
Two Knapsacks|John Campbell

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

MEANINGS

WORD GAMES

LEARN

WRITING

WORD OF THE DAY

lawyer

noun

verb (used without object)

verb (used with object)

Verb Phrases

QUIZZES

CAN YOU GUESS THESE WORDS FROM AROUND THE US?

Origin of lawyer

OTHER WORDS FROM lawyer

Words nearby lawyer

Example sentences from the Web for lawyer

British Dictionary definitions for lawyer

noun

Word Origin for lawyer

MEANINGS

WORD GAMES

LEARN

WRITING

WORD OF THE DAY

lawyer

noun

verb (used without object)

verb (used with object)

Verb Phrases

QUIZZES

CAN YOU GUESS THESE WORDS FROM AROUND THE US?

Origin of lawyer

OTHER WORDS FROM lawyer

Words nearby lawyer

Words related to lawyer

Example sentences from the Web for lawyer

British Dictionary definitions for lawyer

noun

Word Origin for lawyer