special counsel
noun
: counsel appointed to fill a particular need: as
a
: a federal government official appointed by the Attorney General to investigate and prosecute government corruption in cases where the Attorney General's office has a conflict of interest
b
: a federal government official appointed to protect federal employees from illegal practices by employers and especially from employer reprisal for whistleblowing
Examples of special counsel in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Both charges were dropped, and special counsel Jack Smith resigned.
—
Kinsey Crowley, USA Today, 30 May 2026
The files were scrutinized by special counsel Robert Hur as part of his investigation into the president’s improper retention of classified documents, from his time as a senator and as vice president.
—Alanna Durkin Richer, Los Angeles Times, 28 May 2026
The lawsuit follows an intervention by Biden in a separate lawsuit brought by the conservative Heritage Foundation over a FOIA request that sought records from the investigation by former special counsel Robert Hur.
—Alexander Mallin, ABC News, 26 May 2026
Those records would eventually be available to Congress, the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board, or a future special counsel.
—Patrick Eddington, Oc Register, 15 Apr. 2026
In one 2020 opinion, the OLC found that government employees who were interviewed as witnesses in special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election who hired private lawyers were eligible for reimbursement.
—Sarah N. Lynch, CBS News, 14 Apr. 2026
New York University Law School professor Ryan Goodman served as special counsel for the Defense Department.
—Connor Greene, Time, 8 Apr. 2026
Contrast Mueller’s approach with that of the next special counsel to investigate a president, Robert Hur.
—David Frum, The Atlantic, 25 Mar. 2026
The document offers a snapshot of an early moment in special counsel Jack Smith’s investigation and adds new shading to the public understanding of Smith’s probes.
—Jeremy Roebuck, Washington Post, 25 Mar. 2026
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Kinsey Crowley, USA Today, 30 May 2026
The files were scrutinized by special counsel Robert Hur as part of his investigation into the president’s improper retention of classified documents, from his time as a senator and as vice president.
—Alanna Durkin Richer, Los Angeles Times, 28 May 2026
The lawsuit follows an intervention by Biden in a separate lawsuit brought by the conservative Heritage Foundation over a FOIA request that sought records from the investigation by former special counsel Robert Hur.
—Alexander Mallin, ABC News, 26 May 2026
Those records would eventually be available to Congress, the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board, or a future special counsel.
—Patrick Eddington, Oc Register, 15 Apr. 2026
In one 2020 opinion, the OLC found that government employees who were interviewed as witnesses in special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election who hired private lawyers were eligible for reimbursement.
—Sarah N. Lynch, CBS News, 14 Apr. 2026
New York University Law School professor Ryan Goodman served as special counsel for the Defense Department.
—Connor Greene, Time, 8 Apr. 2026
Contrast Mueller’s approach with that of the next special counsel to investigate a president, Robert Hur.
—David Frum, The Atlantic, 25 Mar. 2026
The document offers a snapshot of an early moment in special counsel Jack Smith’s investigation and adds new shading to the public understanding of Smith’s probes.
—Jeremy Roebuck, Washington Post, 25 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Special counsel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/special%20counsel. Accessed 9 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
