public defender

noun

: a lawyer usually holding public office whose duty is to defend accused persons unable to pay for legal assistance

Examples of public defender in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Nationally, 70% of federal judges are white and 60% are men, and former prosecutors outnumber public defenders 4 to 1, The Charlotte Observer previously reported. — Julia Coin july 31, Charlotte Observer, 31 July 2026

Bieniemy was not in court Thursday, an NBC Washington story said, but his public defender appeared on his behalf. — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 31 July 2026

In the first-ever test case before the secretive and never-before-used Alien Terrorist Removal Court, federal public defender Matthew Farley accused the Justice Department of violating Nazira Haji Zada's due process rights. — Sarah N. Lynch, CBS News, 30 July 2026

Operating with minimal leverage, public defenders highlight the importance of strategic negotiation. — Cynthia Pong, Forbes.com, 26 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1822, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for public defender

• bartender
• contender
• engender
• extender
• offender
• pretender
• provender
• surrender
• suspender
• transgender
• bender
• blender

Legal Definition

public defender

noun

: a lawyer usually holding public office who represents criminal defendants unable to pay for legal assistance