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public defender
noun
: a lawyer usually holding public office whose duty is to defend accused persons unable to pay for legal assistance
Examples of public defender in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Newsweek reached out via email to Routh's lead public defender on Tuesday for comment.
—Nina Turner, Newsweek, 29 Oct. 2024
Her public defender, Catherine Gardner, did not respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
—Emily Palmer, Peoplemag, 14 Sep. 2024
These include law enforcement officers, corrections officers, public defenders, prosecutors and people who have received orders of protection, among others.
—Jill Cassidy, The Arizona Republic, 5 Nov. 2024
My career as an Air Force captain, state legislator and felony public defender has prepared me for this role in unique ways.
—Sharon Coolidge, The Enquirer, 27 Oct. 2024
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Word History
First Known Use
1822, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near public defender
Cite this Entry
“Public defender.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/public%20defender. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
Legal Definition
public defender
noun
: a lawyer usually holding public office who represents criminal defendants unable to pay for legal assistance
More from Merriam-Webster on public defender
Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for public defender
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about public defender
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