attorney

[ uh-tur-nee ]

noun

, plural at·tor·neys.

1. a lawyer; attorney-at-law.
2. an attorney-in-fact; agent.

attorney

/ əˈtɜːnɪ /

noun

1. a person legally appointed or empowered to act for another
2. a lawyer qualified to represent clients in legal proceedings
3. a solicitor

Derived Forms

• atˈtorneyˌship, noun

Other Words From

• at·torney·ship noun
• subat·torney noun plural subattorneys
• subat·torney·ship noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of attorney¹

1250–1300; Middle English < Anglo-French attourne literally, “(one who is) turned to,” i.e., “(one who is) appointed,” past participle of attourner “to attorn ”

Word History and Origins

Origin of attorney¹

C14: from Old French atourné, from atourner to direct to; see attorn

Example Sentences

The president-elect’s pick of Matt Gaetz for attorney general signals that he wants the Justice Department to take a sharp-elbowed, hyperpartisan approach to legal matters.

From Los Angeles Times

The House Ethics Committee was set to release a report detailing the findings of an investigation into former Rep. Matt Gaetz's alleged sexual misconduct and illicit drug use on Friday, but President-elect Donald Trump's selection of the Florida Republican to be attorney general abruptly deprived the panel of its jurisdiction.

From Salon

Gaetz, he claimed, was an “accomplished attorney,” despite his thin legal resume, and “a reformer in his mind and heart.”

From Salon

“None of the attorneys had what Trump wants, and they didn’t talk like Gaetz,” the adviser said of the competition for attorney general.

From Salon

Having an attorney general with so much potentially compromising dirt on him could be an asset, it being hard to say “no” to someone would could arguably ruin you.

From Salon