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

In the first Bridget Jones movie, Jones is torn between Daniel Cleaver, her dashing rogue of a boss, played by Grant, and the stable, slightly stuffy barrister Mark Darcy, played by Firth. —Julie Tremaine, Peoplemag, 4 May 2024

He’s just been tasked with figuring out who lobbed off the noggin’ of a barrister at a secretive monastery in the boggy small town of Scarnsea. —Randy Myers, The Mercury News, 1 May 2024

Similar to its ancestors, this barrister cabinet offers plenty of storage, with five individual shelves and glass doors. —Kristina McGuirk, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 Nov. 2023

Still the barrister found time to step out for dinner in New York City. —Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 21 Sep. 2023

Her father was a barrister, her mother a daughter of a successful merchant. —Jess Bidgood, New York Times, 19 Jan. 2024

On Thursday Spacey’s barrister will deliver his closing statement before the jury is asked to retire and reach a verdict. —Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 19 July 2023

During a New York City date night, the chic barrister complemented her party-appropriate look with a blazer that could be borrowed from her husband’s wardrobe. —Alex Kessler, Vogue, 14 Dec. 2023

Amal Clooney is a certified barrister by day, and majors in dazzling eveningwear by night. —Alex Kessler, Vogue, 12 Dec. 2023

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)