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

His public defender didn’t immediately respond Thursday to a request for comments. — Sofia Saric, Miami Herald, 27 Aug. 2026

Defense attorney Laura Koenig, an assistant federal public defender, declined to elaborate in response to an Associated Press inquiry. — CBS News, 25 Aug. 2026

The court then sent the case back to district court to determine whether Sims’ public defender’s performance while initially representing him on the matter prejudiced his case. — Sofi Zeman august 24, Kansas City Star, 24 Aug. 2026

Miller’s arrest is part of a pattern, suggests Kelly Sullivan, an assistant federal public defender. — Charlotte Observer, 22 Aug. 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