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."
"Postmen, binmen, dock workers, even barristers are now on strike. Where will all this end?"
— Philip Haigh, Comment: More strikes and poor morale (2022)
How to use barrister
Learner’s notesIn 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
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Word forms
- Plural
- barristers
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
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.
