solicitor
Americannoun
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solicitors
plural
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a person who solicits.
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a person whose business it is to solicit business, trade, etc.
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an officer having charge of the legal business of a city, town, etc.
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(in England and Wales) a member of that branch of the legal profession whose services consist of advising clients, representing them before the lower courts, and preparing cases for barristers to try in the higher courts.
noun
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(in Britain) a lawyer who advises clients on matters of law, draws up legal documents, prepares cases for barristers, etc, and who may represent clients in certain courts Compare barrister
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(in the US) an officer responsible for the legal affairs of a town, city, etc
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a person who solicits
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of solicitor
1375–1425; late Middle English solicitour < Anglo-French; Middle French soliciteur. See solicit, -or 2
Explanation
If you get into trouble in England, don't ask for a lawyer. Find a solicitor. England has two levels of attorneys: for big problems, you'll need a barrister, but for your hypothetical legal troubles, a solicitor should do nicely. Some highly placed attorneys in the U.S. are also called solicitors. The lawyer in charge of government cases that come before the Supreme Court is the Solicitor General, and that was Elena Kagan's job before President Barack Obama appointed her to the Supreme Court. Solicitor isn’t always a privileged position. The person who knocks on your door asking you to contribute to some worthy cause is also a solicitor — someone who asks for — or solicits — donations.
Vocabulary lists containing solicitor
Animal Farm
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The Lightning Thief
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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.
See Examples For:
Mr O'Kelly was a father-of-five who studied for the priesthood before becoming a solicitor and moving from Coalisland to Bangor when he began working for the DPP.
From BBC ● Sep. 22, 2026
Noah's mother, Fiona Donohoe, said he had been failed by both the department and police while the family's solicitor said she had suffered "indignity after indignity".
From BBC ● Sep. 15, 2026
Wright denies any wrongdoing and has cooperated with the Environment Agency's investigation, his solicitor said after an earlier High Court hearing.
From BBC ● Sep. 11, 2026
It could be a trusted family member or a solicitor, but check whether they charge a fee.
From BBC ● Sep. 8, 2026
Solicitor—for just before leaving London I got word that my examination was successful; and I am now a full-blown solicitor!
From "Dracula" by Bram Stoker
It revealed that the lead detective who investigated the murders - a key trial witness - and two prosecution solicitors had been staying at the same hotel as the sequestered jury.
From BBC ● Aug. 22, 2026
But they couldn't get alternative rooms for two solicitors, though the email stressed the pair also took steps to avoid any "incidental contact".
From BBC ● Aug. 22, 2026
Edney conceded there was "no evidence" that the jurors had communicated with anyone else, but said innocent contact - even just seeing the detective or solicitors - could have resulted in "subconscious influence".
From BBC ● Aug. 22, 2026
He said he wonders if investors read the full disclosures made by such solicitors.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 14, 2026
Then a new batch of solicitors began begging for admittance.
From "Fablehaven" by Brandon Mull
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
