barrister

noun

bar·​ris·​ter ˈber-ə-stər 

ˈba-rə-

: a counsel admitted to plead at the bar and undertake the public trial of causes in an English superior court compare solicitor

Examples of barrister in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

British barrister Cyril Radcliffe was brought in to oversee the entire process: his lack of knowledge about India was seen as advantageous by the collapsing empire, which was suddenly in a hurry to shut shop. —Hazlitt, 17 July 2024

Today, as Britain's justice secretary, former barrister Mahmood outlined Labour's emergency plans to relieve the crisis. —Harriet Marsden, theweek, 12 July 2024

Earl Spencer reportedly retained power barrister Fiona Shackleton, who has also represented Prince Andrew, Paul McCartney and Princess Haya bint al-Hussein of Jordan in their splits from former spouses. —Janine Henni, Peoplemag, 11 June 2024

Queen Elizabeth made the barrister a life peer in 2010, awarding her the title Baroness Shackleton of Belgravia, the Daily Mail reported. —Janine Henni, Peoplemag, 10 June 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English barrester, from barre bar + -ster (as in legister lawyer)

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Legal Definition

barrister

noun

bar·​ris·​ter ˈbar-ə-stər 

1

: a lawyer who argues cases before a British court

especially : one who is allowed to argue before a British high court compare solicitor

Note: Many countries in the Commonwealth (as England and Australia) and the Republic of Ireland divide the legal profession into barristers and solicitors. In Canada, every lawyer is both a barrister and a solicitor, although individual lawyers may describe themselves as one or the other. Scotland uses the term advocate to refer to lawyers allowed to argue cases in its courts.

2

: lawyer

Etymology

Middle English barrester, from barre bar + -ster (as in legister lawyer)