lawyer

[ law-yer, loi-er ]

/ ˈlɔ yər, ˈlɔɪ ər /

SEE MORE 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.

Nearby words

lawson, lawson criterion, lawson cypress, lawsuit, lawton, lawyer, lawyer vine, lawyer's wig, lawyering, lawyerly, lax

Origin of lawyer

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

Related forms

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

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for lawyer

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

Word Origin and History for lawyer

lawyer

late 14c. (mid-14c. as a surname), from Middle English lawe "law" (see law) + -iere. Spelling with -y- first attested 1610s (see -yer).

lawyer

noun

verb (used without object)

verb (used with object)

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Nearby words

Origin of lawyer

Examples from the Web for lawyer

British Dictionary definitions for lawyer

lawyer

noun

Word Origin for lawyer

Word Origin and History for lawyer

lawyer