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

The testimony comes as the committee probes Smith's actions during his time as special counsel in the Biden administration. —Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 22 Jan. 2026

The new appointee was Joseph Mazzara, previously special counsel to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, whom Noem later tapped to serve as acting general counsel at DHS headquarters. —Anna Giaritelli, The Washington Examiner, 22 Jan. 2026

Republican senators, who were responding to the revelation subpoenas of members’ phone records by former special counsel Jack Smith in his 2020 election probe, had previously blindsided and angered the House by including that provision in a bill to end the historic government shutdown. —Sudiksha Kochi, The Hill, 22 Jan. 2026

Trump and his supporters allege that the special counsel was trying to influence the 2024 election. —Kathryn Palmer, USA Today, 22 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1818, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for special counsel

• council

Legal Definition

special counsel

noun

: counsel appointed to fill a particular need

specifically, capitalized : a government official charged with protecting employees from illegal practices by employers and especially from employer reprisal for whistleblowing