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

Javier Martinez, a public defender assigned to represent Jason Watford, did not respond to a phone message Tuesday. — Anna Wilder, Chicago Tribune, 11 Nov. 2026

Records indicate he is being represented by the Maryland public defender’s office. — Dan Morse, Washington Post, 5 Nov. 2026

Jimenez’s criminal defense attorney, federal public defender Ayah Sarsour, did not return messages seeking comment Wednesday. — Fedor Zarkhin, Los Angeles Times, 5 Nov. 2026

The case was initially continued due to a new public defender taking over the case in July 2025. — Kansas City Star, 30 Oct. 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