lawyer

[law-yer, loi-er]

noun

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

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

verb (used without object)

1. to work as a lawyer; practice law.

verb (used with object)

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

verb phrase

1. lawyer up,  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.

lawyer

/ ˈlɔːjə, ˈlɔɪə /

noun

1. a member of the legal profession, esp a solicitor See also advocate barrister solicitor

2. a popular name for burbot

Other Word Forms

• lawyerlike adjective
• lawyerly adjective
• delawyer verb (used with object)
• nonlawyer noun
• underlawyer noun
• unlawyerlike adjective
• unlawyerly adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of lawyer¹

First recorded in 1350–1400, lawyer is from the Middle English word lawyere. See law ¹, -ier ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of lawyer¹

C14: from _law ¹

Example Sentences

Nwobu's lawyer had accompanied them as he is the legal adviser to the Nigerian firm that organised the trip.

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The state’s lawyers asked for a decision by Monday, noting that candidates have a Dec. 8 deadline to file for election.

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The tax bill also expands eligible expenses to include credentialing and licensing programs such coursework or tests to become a fitness trainer, a certified public accountant, or a lawyer.

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Just what is an “AI use”, and what is “AI”, in the first place, remain subject to interpretation, said a May 2025 note by lawyers at the national insurance litigation firm Hunton Andrews Kurth.

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His lawyers asked the court to reconsider the measure and return Bolsonaro to "humanitarian house arrest" due to his "state of mental confusion," attributed to medications he is taking.

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Related Words

• advocate 
• counselor