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
The brother is represented by the federal public defender’s office.
—
Jay Weaver, Miami Herald, 3 Feb. 2026
Prior to the Iowa Supreme Court’s June 2025 decision to suspend her license for six months, Wigington argued for a 30-day suspension, noting that northwest Iowa was in serious need of public defenders.
—Clark Kauffman, Iowa Capital Dispatch, 3 Feb. 2026
While Athena’s killing is believed to have occurred in Wise County, the case was moved to Tarrant County after Horner’s public defenders argued that extensive pretrial publicity prevented him from getting a fair trial in Wise County.
—Jane Harper, Dallas Morning News, 30 Jan. 2026
The county’s chief public defender, Michael Berger, said the case hasn’t been assigned to his office.
—Michael Biesecker, Fortune, 29 Jan. 2026
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Jay Weaver, Miami Herald, 3 Feb. 2026
Prior to the Iowa Supreme Court’s June 2025 decision to suspend her license for six months, Wigington argued for a 30-day suspension, noting that northwest Iowa was in serious need of public defenders.
—Clark Kauffman, Iowa Capital Dispatch, 3 Feb. 2026
While Athena’s killing is believed to have occurred in Wise County, the case was moved to Tarrant County after Horner’s public defenders argued that extensive pretrial publicity prevented him from getting a fair trial in Wise County.
—Jane Harper, Dallas Morning News, 30 Jan. 2026
The county’s chief public defender, Michael Berger, said the case hasn’t been assigned to his office.
—Michael Biesecker, Fortune, 29 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for public defender
Cite this Entry
“Public defender.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/public%20defender. Accessed 4 Feb. 2026.
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