lawyer

noun

law·​yer ˈlȯ-yər How to pronounce lawyer (audio) ˈlȯi-ər How to pronounce lawyer (audio)
Synonyms of lawyernext
: one whose profession is to conduct lawsuits for clients or to advise as to legal rights and obligations in other matters
lawyerlike
ˈlȯ-yər-ˌlīk How to pronounce lawyer (audio)
ˈlȯi-ər-
adjective
lawyerly
ˈlȯ-yər-lē How to pronounce lawyer (audio)
ˈlȯi-ər-
adjective

Synonyms of lawyer

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Examples of lawyer in a Sentence

their lawyers told them that they couldn't use the park for the concert without permission from the city
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
On Sunday, the lawyers for the DOJ managed to get a three-judge panel of the Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit to convene a rare emergency hearing because, OMG, people are actually voting and California is processing ballots! — Los Angeles Times, 26 Oct. 2026 Then The New York Times’ general counsel, David McCraw, spoke to Griffin’s lawyer, Tom Clare, though the two men offered somewhat different versions of what was said. — Ben Smith, semafor.com, 26 Oct. 2026 But lawyers warn that the paper trail of funds leaving CRS jurisdictions could still expose clients to retroactive taxes. — Anniek Bao,evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 26 Oct. 2026 Immigrants poured in from Latin America, too, especially Chileans, who hailed from a country rich in precious metals, and who taught many a New England lawyer and Midwestern farm boy the art of mining. — Kathryn Schulz, New Yorker, 26 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for lawyer

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of lawyer was in the 14th century

Phrases Containing lawyer

Rhymes for lawyer

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Browse Nearby Words

law-worthy
lawyer
lawyer bush
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Cite this Entry

“Lawyer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lawyer. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

lawyer

noun
law·​yer ˈlȯ-yər How to pronounce lawyer (audio) ˈlȯi-ər How to pronounce lawyer (audio)
: a person whose profession is to conduct lawsuits for clients or to advise about legal rights and obligations

Legal Definition

lawyer

noun
law·​yer ˈlȯ-yər How to pronounce lawyer (audio)
: one whose profession is to advise clients as to legal rights and obligations and to represent clients in legal proceedings

More from Merriam-Webster on lawyer

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about lawyer

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