lawyerlaw‧yer /ˈlɔːjə $ ˈlɒːjər/ ●●● S3 W2 noun [countable] 
WORD ORIGINlawyer
Origin:
1300-1400 law + -yer (from ➔ -IER (1))EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- Defense lawyer Charles Grieshammer said he was not surprised by the verdict.
- He refused to answer any questions until his lawyer came.
- You have to study for a long time to become a lawyer.
- Doctors and lawyers, teachers and preachers were respected members of the community. 15.
- Even indifferent lawyers may be kept going by their clerk arranging for briefs to be passed to them from dud solicitors.
- My greatest joy as a lawyer was making partner.
- The lawyer believed his colleagues had begun to whisper about him behind his back.
- When the University of Illinois' lawyers harumphed loudly, Clark and Andreesen changed the name.
- You know, I came out to be a lawyer like you, but I hated the lawyering part.
THESAURUS
someone whose job is to advise people about laws, write formal agreements, or represent people in court: · His lawyer told him to plead guilty.
American English a lawyer. Attorney sounds more formal than lawyer: · ‘The United States sees intellectual property rights as sacred,’ said Thomas Klitgaard, an attorney specializing in international law.· Acting on the advice of his attorney, he remained silent throughout the questioning.
a type of lawyer in Britain who gives legal advice, prepares the documents when property is bought or sold, and defends people, especially in the lower courts of law: · She works as a commercial property solicitor at Nabarro Nathanson in London.· He went to the family solicitor to make a will.
a lawyer in Britain who can argue cases in the higher law courts: · McWalter's barrister, Hugh Vass, stressed his client’s previous good character.
formal a formal word for a lawyer in American English, or a barrister in Scotland: · The committee can put questions to the defendant or his advocate.
British English informal the lawyer who represents someone in a court case: · His brief asked for a fine rather than a prison sentence.
[uncountable] the lawyer or group of lawyers who are representing someone in court: · counsel for the defence/prosecution
Longman Language Activatorthe people in the legal process the person in charge of a court, who knows a lot about the law and makes the official decision about what the punishment for a crime should be: · Everyone stood up as the judge entered the courtroom.· Judge Butler gave the defendant a six-month jail sentence.· The judge advised the governor that the law violated the First Amendment rights of teachers.
a group of ordinary people, who listen to the people speaking at a trial, and then decide whether or not someone is guilty of a crime: · The jury was made up of seven women and five men.· Have you ever been on a jury?· The jury awarded Hayes $3.5 million in damages.jury duty/service (=a period of time during which you must be ready to be part of a jury if necessary): · I have been called for jury duty twice.hung jury (=a jury that cannot make a decision about whether someone is guilty or not): · Broderick's first trial last year ended in a hung jury.sit on a jury (=be a member of a jury): · Are people with criminal records allowed to sit on a jury?
also attorney especially American someone who is trained in the law and who represents people in court: · You have to study for a long time to become a lawyer.· He refused to answer any questions until his lawyer came.defence lawyer British: defense laywer American (=a lawyer who tries to prove that a person is not guilty of a crime): · Defense lawyer Charles Grieshammer said he was not surprised by the verdict.
the person in a trial who is being judged guilty or not guilty of a crime: · The defendant pleaded not guilty.· According to the defendant, the heroin was destined for the New York City area.
someone who is trying to prove that they are not guilty of a crime that they are on trial for: · The accused is being held in the Pelham County Jail on charges of assault and battery.· According to the sixth amendment, the accused has the right to a fair and public trial.
British /the defense American the lawyers in a court who try to prove that someone is not guilty of a crime: · The defence plans to call only one witness to testify.· Today, the defence makes its final presentation to the jury.· Peres said the defense team would appeal the sentencing by Judge Bernardo Tirado.
the lawyers in a court who try to prove that someone is guilty of a crime: · The prosecution's first witness is expected to be one of the defendant's co-workers.· Speaking for the prosecution, Lipscomb said that both men should go to prison for the rest of their lives.
someone who tells what they know about a crime in court: · Police have appealed for witnesses to come forward.· The witness was asked to identify the defendant in the courtroom.call somebody as a witness: · The congressman was called as a witness for the prosecution today.
WORD SETSaccess, nounacquit, verbacquittal, nounactionable, adjectiveact of God, nounadjourn, verbadminister, verbadmissible, adjectiveADR, nounadversarial, adjectiveadvocate, nounaffidavit, nounage, nounaggrieved, adjectiveagreement, nounannual return, anti-dumping, adjectiveantitrust, adjectiveAppeal Court, nounappear, verbappellate court, nounarraign, verbarticled clerk, articles of association, nounassignee, nounassizes, nounattachment, nounattest, verbattorney, nounattorney-at-law, nounattorney general, nounaverage clause, bailable, adjectivebailee, nounbailiff, nounbailment, nounban, nounbarrister, nounbeneficial owner, beneficiary, nounbequeath, verbbequest, nounbest efforts, adjectivebid-rigging, nounbill, nounbill of rights, nounblue law, nounbody corporate, bond, nounbook, verbbox, nounbreakdown clause, break fee, brief, nounbroker's lien, burden of proof, nounbusiness entity, buyer's risk, bylaw, nouncabotage, nouncadastre, nouncase, nouncase law, nouncash shell, nouncause, nouncause célèbre, nouncause of action, nouncaution, nouncaution, verbcertificate of incorporation, nouncertificate of protest, nouncertificate of search, nounchain of title, nounchallenge, nounchallenge, verbchancery, nounChapter 7, nouncharge, nouncharge, verbcharges register, chief justice, nouncircuit court, nouncite, verbcitizen's arrest, nouncivil, adjectivecivil law, nounclaim, nounclaimant, nounclass action, nounclause, nounclean, adjectivecloud on title, nouncollusion, nouncommerce clause, committal, nouncommon law, nouncommunity property, nounCommunity Reinvestment Act, nouncommutation, nounCompanies House, nouncompanies registry, company limited by guarantee, nouncompany limited by shares, nouncompany officer, competence, nouncompetent, adjectivecomplainant, nouncompletion, nouncompletion date, compliance officer, compulsory purchase, nounconditional discharge, nouncondition precedent, nouncondition subsequent, nounconduct money, confidentiality clause, confirmation hearing, conflict of laws, nounconjugal, adjectiveconsensus ad idem, nounconsent decree, consenting adult, nounconservator, nounconstituted, adjectiveconstitution, nounconstitutional, adjectiveconstitutionality, nouncontempt, nouncontest, verbcontingency fee, contract of insurance, nouncontract of purchase, nouncontract of service, nouncontravene, verbcontravention, nouncontributory negligence, nounconvey, verbconveyance, nounconveyancing, nounconvict, verbconviction, nouncopyright, nounco-respondent, nouncosignatory, nouncounsel, nouncounty court, nouncourthouse, nouncourt-martial, nouncourt-martial, verbCourt of Appeal, nounCourt of Appeals, nouncourt of inquiry, nouncourt of law, nounCourt of Queen's Bench, nouncourt order, nouncourt reporter, nouncourtroom, nouncramdown, nouncriminal, adjectivecriminal injury, criminalize, verbcriminal law, nouncross-examine, verbCrown Court, nouncurfew, nouncustodial, adjectiveD.A., noundata protection, death sentence, noundeath warrant, noundeclaration of association, noundecree, noundecree absolute, noundecree nisi, noundecriminalize, verbdeed, noundeed of conveyance, noundefalcation, noundefend, verbdefendant, noundeficiency judgment, noundeficiency judgment, de jure, adjectivedeposition, noundeputy, nounderivative lease, desertion, noundiminished responsibility, noundiplomatic immunity, noundirectors register, disabled quota, disbar, verbdischarge of contract, noundisclaim, verbdisclaimer, noundiscretionary, adjectivedisinherit, verbdismiss, verbdispense, verbdisposition, noundispossess, verbdissent, noundissolution, noundistrain, verbdistrict attorney, noundistrict court, noundivorce, noundivorce, verbdivorced, adjectivedocket, noundonee, noundouble jeopardy, noundraftsman, noundrink-driving, noundrunk driving, noundue process, nounduress, nouneasement, nounedict, nouneffective, adjectiveeminent domain, nounempower, verbenabling, adjectiveenabling clause, enact, verbendowment, nounenforced, adjectiveenjoin, verbescape clause, escrow, nounescrow agent, estate, nounestoppel, nounevidence, nounexamination, nounexamination-in-chief, nounexamine, verbexculpate, verbexecute, verbexecutor, nounexecutrix, nounexhibit, nounexpectations, nounex post facto law, nounexpropriate, verbextradite, verbextrajudicial, adjectivefair dealing, false representation, nounfee absolute, nounfiduciary, nounfiduciary, adjectivefinding, nounfirm name, nounfixtures and fittings, nounforce majeure, nounforeman, nounforewoman, nounfreeholder, nounfree pardon, nounfrustration of contract, fugitive, nounfugitive, adjectivegagging order, gag order, noungarnishee, verbgarnishee, noungeneral counsel, noungeneral practice, noungive, verbgrand jury, noungrantee, noungrantor, noungreen paper, noungross misconduct, ground rent, nounguarantee, verbguarantor, nounguaranty, nounguillotine, verbguilt, noungun control, nounhabeas corpus, nounHague Rules, nounhear, verbhearing, nounheir, nounheir apparent, nounhereafter, adverbhereditament, nounhereinafter, adverbhereof, adverbhereto, adverbheritable, adjectiveHigh Court, nounHighway Code, nounhirer, nounhuman right, nounimplied term, inadmissible, adjectiveinalienable, adjectiveincriminate, verbindemnify, verbindemnity, nounindict, verbindictable, adjectiveindictment, nounindustrial tribunal, nouninitiative, nouninjunction, nounin loco parentis, adverbinnocence, nouninnocent, adjectiveinoperative, adjectiveinquest, nouninsanity, nouninstruct, verbintellectual property, nounintent, nouninterdict, nouninterlocutory injunction, invoke, verbJane Doe, nounjob quota, joint and several liability, JP, nounjudge, nounjudge, verbjudicial, adjectivejuridical, adjectivejurisdiction, nounjurisprudence, nounjurist, nounjuror, nounjury, nounjury box, nounjury service, nounjustice, nounJustice of the Peace, nounjustifiable homicide, nounjuvenile, adjectivekangaroo court, nounKing's Counsel, nounlaw firm, nounlawyer, nounlease, nounleasehold, adjectiveleaseholder, nounlegatee, nounlegator, nounlessee, nounlessor, nounletters of administration, nounliable, adjectivelicensee, nounlien, nounlienee, nounlienor, nounlimited liability, nounliquidated damages, litigant, nounlitigate, verblitigation, nounlitigator, nounlitigious, adjectiveliving will, nounloophole, nounmagisterial, adjectivemagistracy, nounmagistrate, nounMagistrates' Court, nounmaintenance, nounmajority, nounmalfeasance, nounmalpractice, nounmarriage certificate, nounmarriage licence, nounmarriage lines, nounmaterial, adjectivematerial fact, nounmemorandum, nounmiscarriage of justice, nounmisdirect, verbmisfeasance, nounmisstatement, nounmistrial, nounM'lord, nounM'lud, nounmoiety, nounmonies, nounmoot court, nounmoratorium, nounmovable, nounno-fault, adjectivenolo contendere, nounnonfeasance, nounnon-negotiable, adjectivenotary, nounnuisance, nounnullify, verbnullity, nounoath, nounopen-and-shut case, nounopen verdict, nounoperative mistake, nounordinance, nounoriginating application, originating summons, outlaw, nounout-of-court settlement, nounoyez, interjectionpalimony, nounpanel, nounparalegal, nounpardon, verbpardon, nounparty, nounpass, verbpassage, nounpatent, nounpatent, adjectivepaternity, nounpaternity suit, nounpatrimony, nounpenal code, nounpenalty, nounperformance contract, perjury, nounpersonal injury, personal representative, personalty, nounpetition, nounpetition, verbpetitioner, nounplaintiff, nounplanning permission, nounplea bargaining, nounpleadings, nounpledgee, nounpolice, verbpositive discrimination, nounpower of attorney, nounprecedent, nounprejudice, verbpreservation order, nounpresume, verbprice-fixing, nounprima facie, adjectiveprimary residence, prime tenant, primogeniture, nounprivate law, nounprivileged, adjectiveprivity, nounprobate, nounprobate, verbprobation, nounprobationer, nounprobation officer, nounpro bono, adjectiveprocedural, adjectiveproceeding, nounproceedings, nounprohibit, verbprohibition, nounprohibitive, adjectivepromulgate, verbpronounce, verbproposition, nounproscribe, verbprosecute, verbprosecution, nounprosecutor, nounprotective custody, nounprove, verbprovision, nounprovisional licence, nounproximate cause, nounpublic defender, nounpublic prosecutor, nounpublic service vehicle, punishable, adjectiveQC, nounquarter sessions, nounquash, verbQueen's Counsel, nounreal property, nounrecess, nounrecess, verbrecognition, nounrecognizance, nounrecorder, nounreeve, nounregulation, nounremand, verbremand, nounrepeal, verbrescind, verbrespondent, nounrestoration, nounrestore, verbretainer, nounretrial, nounretroactive, adjectiveretrospective, adjectiveretry, verbreversion, nounrevocation, nounrevoke, verbRex, nounright of appeal, nounroad tax, nounroot of title, royalty payment, rule, verbruling, nounsaid, adjectivesalami slicing, nounSarbanes-Oxley Act, nounscheme of arrangement, nounsentence, nounsentence, verbsequester, verbsession, nounsettlement date, settlement terms, shall, modal verbshell company, sheriff, nounsheriff court, nounshow trial, nounsitting tenant, nounsmall claims court, nounsolicitor, nounsolicitor general, nounSOX, nounspecial licence, nounspecific performance, speed limit, nounstakeholder, nounstate attorney, nounstate court, nounstated case, statute, nounstatute law, nounstatute of limitations, nounstatutory, adjectivestatutory report, stay, nounstay of execution, nounstipendiary magistrate, nounstoppage in transit, nounsub judice, adverbsubmission, nounsuborn, verbsubpoena, nounsubpoena, verbsue, verbsuit, nounsumming up, nounsumming-up, nounsummons, nounsummons, verbSupreme Court, nounsurety, nounsuspended sentence, nounswear, verbtechnicality, nountenant at sufferance, nountenant at will, nountenant for years, nountenant in common, nountenure, nountestament, nountestator, nountest case, nountest certificate, nountestify, verbtestimony, nounthereinafter, adverbthird party, nounthrough, prepositionticket, nounticket, verbtitle, nountitle deed, nountitle holder, nountort, nountradename, nounTrading Standards, treasure trove, nountrespass, verbtrespass, nountrial, nountrust for sale, nounultra vires, adjectiveunderwriting power, undue influence, noununlicensed, adjectiveuphold, verbverdict, nounvindicate, verbvisa, nounvoucher, nounward, nounwarrant, nounwhereas, conjunctionwill, nounwill, verbwinding up, nounwitness, nounwitness, verbwitness box, nounwrit, nounwrongful termination,
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRYverbs
My brother’s studying to be an accountant.
· If you are charged with breaking the law, you will need to get a lawyer.
· He’s rich enough to hire a good lawyer.
(=talk to a lawyer for advice)· She has consulted a lawyer and is considering whether to sue Bailey.
(=for advice)· Have you spoken to a lawyer?
· a group of lawyers who represent the airline
· His lawyers argued that the charges against him were baseless.
· His lawyers advised him not to comment.
ADJECTIVES/NOUN + lawyer (=a lawyer who tries to prove in court that someone is not guilty)· This evidence was given to the defence lawyer.
(=a lawyer who tries to prove in court that someone is guilty)· The prosecution lawyer asked his witness a question.
· He has worked as a civil rights lawyer for over twenty years.
· She is one of the country’s leading criminal lawyers.
· The actress is unhappy about the magazine article and has consulted a libel lawyer.
· A clever lawyer may get a case against his client dropped because of a technicality.
(=a successful and confident lawyer)· He’s a hotshot lawyer with a growing reputation.
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES (=who deals with criminal cases)
(=one dealing with divorce)· She's a famous New York divorce lawyer.
· We need to find the money for the doctor’s fees somehow.
(=a doctor, lawyer etc who is a woman. Some women think this use is offensive)
My brother’s studying to be an accountant.· He is regarded as one of the finest trial lawyers in the state.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADJECTIVE· They are intimidating towards criminal lawyers.· Tom Nash was a ward leader and a prosperous criminal lawyer who defended Capone and other gangsters.· The scheme certainly helped me right at the beginning when I was starting up as a criminal lawyer.· L., or Abraham L., when he was a young criminal lawyer and a state senator.· Particularly challenging to the criminal lawyer is the role played by consent in the medical-legal context.· More particularly, he is an experienced criminal defense lawyer and knows how circumscribed our talks would necessarily have to be.· Consequently the complete criminal lawyer is no narrow expositor of black-letter legal rules and exhaustive conceptual analyses.· That is a sentiment echoed by criminal defense lawyer William Habern of Riverside, who specializes in state and federal parole cases.
· The Rules include a provision permitting registered foreign lawyers to be directors and members of incorporated practices with solicitors.· The initial legal advice had come from Foreign Office lawyers but the contrary advice came from Sir Nicholas.· There are signs that legislation may be passed in 2001 or 2002 to introduce a regime for foreign lawyers.
· A good lawyer could have dealt with that.· Even a good labor lawyer might not have been much help.· This example shows how it is possible to display the qualities of a good lawyer without knowing much law.· The fact remains that one only becomes a good lawyer by continuing education beyond law school.· He imagined himself driving a tearful Anne and Abigail back to Beryl, then finding Adam a good lawyer.· The best lawyers of the day inevitably became involved with the railroads.· He had worked hard for the party and had earned the black robe, and he was even a pretty good lawyer.
· No person shall be appointed or re-appointed or act as a Director unless he is a solicitor or a registered foreign lawyer.· The Rules include a provision permitting registered foreign lawyers to be directors and members of incorporated practices with solicitors.
· Burdine's court-appointed trial lawyer, Joe Frank Cannon, who died in 1998, was notorious for nodding off in courtrooms.· Clinton vetoed the bill after being lobbied by trial lawyers, but Congress overrode the veto.· It has skilled trial lawyers and huge support staffs.· But when Silicon Valley executives bankrolled a trio of anti-lawyer initiatives on the March primary ballot, trial lawyers rebounded.· It is a lesson most trial lawyers know well.· They want to be trial lawyers.
· She had been out with a young lawyer once, a bumptious and ambitious man, and a boring one.· Academic law is another field which the talented young lawyer may consider.· He said that the older lawyers who were liberals like him wanted to do it, but the younger lawyers did not.· The unfortunate man was Mr John Stevenson, a young lawyer from London.· To the jury, I was just that young country lawyer, that sincere kid representing a poor client.· As younger lawyers go through the system there will be more openness to it, and more understanding of it.· In the same town, a young lawyer just starting out in her storefront office has herself a case.
NOUN· After defence lawyers pointed out the flats had not yet been built, they changed to an unspecified date in 1993.· Both prosecution and defence lawyers gave eloquent closing speeches.· Cross-examination by defence lawyers should also be videotaped at an informal hearing before trial, with the press and public excluded.· Browning's defence lawyer says this and other evidence could have been crucial if heard by the trial jury.· Macarthy, the defence lawyer, found himself in the position of trying to defend the indefensible and justify the unjustifiable.· When the session was adjourned, the judiciary and defence lawyers gave conflicting accounts of the outcome.· There was an eloquent and impassioned speech from Mr Wash, Woolridge's defence lawyer.
· Meanwhile, his defense lawyers chipped away at the prosecution's arguments.· Jeffery J.. Carlson, a Santa Monica defense lawyer offered a similar critique.· Ruth Halpern, who had just been brainstorming about the idea with a death-penalty defense lawyer, was intrigued.· Instead of freely submitting to police interviews, they hired a pair of Denver defense lawyers, one for each of them.· Fujisaki will probably rule next week on whether defense lawyers can draw a more sinister inference from the delay during closing arguments.· The prosecutors and defense lawyers regarded Kovitsky as a holy terror.· This was how he negotiated with defense lawyers.· A good defense lawyer has an intricate network.
· I am a labor lawyer, and my heart sinks.· To me, a labor lawyer, a beating at a union hall is a political act.· Even a good labor lawyer might not have been much help.· I was surprised to hear this from a labor lawyer.· C., a labor lawyer, has been teaching me about corporate campaigns.· The father of one of the pregnant women was a labor lawyer.· Another labor lawyer, a friend of mine, sent me a copy.· As a young labor lawyer, I used to think I could ignore the Teamsters.
VERB· Californian Tamara Rotola has hired a lawyer to fight for maintenance from Albert for her six-month-old daughter.· I am hiring a lawyer to look into that trust fund, Marie had written.· He could not afford to hire a lawyer, he said.· He had hired a lawyer in Warsaw, actually the same former captain of legionnaires with whom Minna had threatened Barish Mendl.· The unions would hire lawyers to file the briefs.· Rich celebrities are allowed to hire good lawyers and get off easy.· He has hired 16 trial lawyers and expects to have three more aboard soon.· Meili was suspended from his job and hired a lawyer to pursue his case.
· It's a question that lawyers representing the two Hitachi employees wanted to pursue in open court.· She thought lawyers represented ultimate respectability-they all made millions, rode in nice cars, and spoke fluently.· A lawyer representing the company currently servicing the loan denies Aikens' assertions.· C., lawyers to represent it.· The association now refuses to handle arbitration cases in which employees are forbidden from having lawyers represent them.
PHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
- Morwenna Wood a practising doctor is being treated in Oxford's JOhn radcliffe hospital.
WORD FAMILYnounlawlawyeroutlawlawfulnesslawlessnessadjectivelawful ≠ unlawfulverboutlawadverblawfully ≠ unlawfully
someone whose job is to advise people about laws, write formal agreements, or represent people in courtCOLLOCATIONSverbsget a lawyer· If you are charged with breaking the law, you will need to get a lawyer.hire/engage a lawyer· He’s rich enough to hire a good lawyer.see/consult a lawyer (=talk to a lawyer for advice)· She has consulted a lawyer and is considering whether to sue Bailey.talk to/speak to a lawyer (=for advice)· Have you spoken to a lawyer?a lawyer acts for/defends/represents somebody· a group of lawyers who represent the airlinea lawyer argues something· His lawyers argued that the charges against him were baseless.a lawyer advises something· His lawyers advised him not to comment.ADJECTIVES/NOUN + lawyera defence lawyer (=a lawyer who tries to prove in court that someone is not guilty)· This evidence was given to the defence lawyer.a prosecution lawyer (=a lawyer who tries to prove in court that someone is guilty)· The prosecution lawyer asked his witness a question.a civil rights lawyer· He has worked as a civil rights lawyer for over twenty years.a criminal lawyer· She is one of the country’s leading criminal lawyers.a libel lawyer· The actress is unhappy about the magazine article and has consulted a libel lawyer.a clever lawyer· A clever lawyer may get a case against his client dropped because of a technicality.a hotshot lawyer (=a successful and confident lawyer)· He’s a hotshot lawyer with a growing reputation.THESAURUSlawyer someone whose job is to advise people about laws, write formal agreements, or represent people in court: · His lawyer told him to plead guilty.attorney American English a lawyer. Attorney sounds more formal than lawyer: · ‘The United States sees intellectual property rights as sacred,’ said Thomas Klitgaard, an attorney specializing in international law.· Acting on the advice of his attorney, he remained silent throughout the questioning.solicitor a type of lawyer in Britain who gives legal advice, prepares the documents when property is bought or sold, and defends people, especially in the lower courts of law: · She works as a commercial property solicitor at Nabarro Nathanson in London.· He went to the family solicitor to make a will.barrister a lawyer in Britain who can argue cases in the higher law courts: · McWalter's barrister, Hugh Vass, stressed his client’s previous good character.advocate formal a formal word for a lawyer in American English, or a barrister in Scotland: · The committee can put questions to the defendant or his advocate.brief British English informal the lawyer who represents someone in a court case: · His brief asked for a fine rather than a prison sentence.counsel [uncountable] the lawyer or group of lawyers who are representing someone in court: · counsel for the defence/prosecution