Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com

legal aid

American  

noun

  1. free legal service to persons unable to pay for a lawyer.


legal aid British  

noun

  1. a means-tested benefit in the form of financial assistance for persons to meet the cost of advice and representation in legal proceedings

"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

Etymology

Origin of legal aid

First recorded in 1885–90

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.

He offered pro bono legal aid to farm worker groups in the Central Valley and won headline-making settlements for police brutality victims in Orange County, from Latina immigrants to white supremacists.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 17, 2026

Foundation, which provides meals and reading resources to students in Oakland, Calif. Glide provides meals, healthcare and legal aid to homeless and other vulnerable individuals in San Francisco.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 15, 2026

The strike action, which commenced in January, has meant that no Crown Court cases involving defendants who require legal aid can proceed.

From BBC • May 7, 2026

Consumer advocates and legal aid attorneys have been concerned for months that not enough parent borrowers are aware of this looming deadline.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 27, 2026

Barack activated his network of community organizers to connect us with legal aid, advocacy, and teaching opportunities.

From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama

Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Look it up. Learn it forever.

Remember "legal aid" for good with VocabTrainer. Expand your vocabulary effortlessly with personalized learning tools that adapt to your goals.

Take me to Vocabulary.com