pro bono
adjective
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In Latin, pro bono publico means "for the public good;" in English we generally shorten the phrase to pro bono. Donating free legal help to those who need it has long been a practice of American law firms; the American Bar Association actually recommends that all lawyers donate 50 hours a year. Pro bono work is sometimes donated by nonlegal firms as well. For example, an advertising firm might produce a 60-second video for an environmental or educational organization, or a strategic-planning firm might prepare a start-up plan for a charity that funds shelters for battered women.
Examples of pro bono in a Sentence
Sophie Hurwitz, Wired News, 6 Sep. 2025
His work at the clinic earned him the Highest Pro Bono Distinction at graduation, which was awarded for working more than 150 extra pro bono hours above the normal course requirements of the clinic.
—Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Across the country, universities and major law firms are trying to dodge Trump’s ire, offering up millions in concessions in the forms of kickbacks and pro bono hours of lawyering.
—Philip Elliott, Time, 26 Aug. 2025
Through their Pro Bono for Economic Equity program, 216 SAP employees have dedicated over 22,000 hours to leveraging their professional skills as pro bono consultants with more than 70 businesses.
—Brendan Le, People.com, 20 Aug. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Pro bono.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pro%20bono. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
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