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noun Uncommon

barrister

BAR-ihst-uh

Barrister (noun) means (chiefly British) A lawyer qualified to argue cases in the higher courts. Example: “She hired a barrister to represent her case before the High Court.”

noun
1
(chiefly British) A lawyer qualified to argue cases in the higher courts.
"She hired a barrister to represent her case before the High Court."
"He trained for years before being called to the bar as a barrister."

How to use barrister

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishIn the British legal system, a specialist lawyer who argues cases in court, as distinct from a solicitor who handles other legal work.

UK vs US

The barrister/solicitor split is a British and Commonwealth distinction; American English generally just uses "lawyer" or "attorney" for both roles.

Easily confused with

Word forms

barristers plural

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Fill the gap

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She hired a _____ to represent her case before the High Court.

Etymology

Formed from bar (referring to the legal profession) plus the agent suffix -ster.

Rhymes for barrister

See all rhymes for barrister →

Frequently asked questions

What does “barrister” mean?

The word “barrister” means (chiefly British) A lawyer qualified to argue cases in the higher courts. In plain terms, in the British legal system, a specialist lawyer who argues cases in court, as distinct from a solicitor who handles other legal work.

How do you pronounce “barrister”?

“Barrister” is pronounced BAR-ihst-uh (/ˈbæɹ.ɪst.ə(ɹ)/ in IPA).

How do you use “barrister” in a sentence?

Here is “barrister” used in a sentence: “She hired a barrister to represent her case before the High Court.”

What part of speech is “barrister”?

“Barrister” is a noun.

Is “barrister” a common word?

“Barrister” is an uncommon word in modern English.

Definitions: FreeDict original editorial