noun
attorney
uh-TUR-nee
noun
1
A lawyer, especially one licensed to represent clients in legal matters.
"She hired an attorney to review the contract."
2
A person legally authorized to act on someone else's behalf.
"He was granted power of attorney over his father's affairs."
How to Use Attorney
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA lawyer, or more broadly, someone legally appointed to act for another person.
UK vs US
"Attorney" is the standard general term for a lawyer in the US; British English more often uses "solicitor" or "barrister."
Common pairings
power of attorney
district attorney
defense attorney
Word Forms
attorneyed past tense, attorneys plural, attornies plural, attorneys singular
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Etymology
From Old French atorné, "one appointed [to act for another]," from atorner, "to assign, appoint."