attorney
Americannoun
plural
attorneys-
a lawyer; attorney-at-law.
-
an attorney-in-fact; agent.
noun
-
a person legally appointed or empowered to act for another
-
a lawyer qualified to represent clients in legal proceedings
-
a solicitor
Other Word Forms
- attorneyship noun
- subattorney noun
- subattorneyship noun
Etymology
Origin of attorney
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 ”
Explanation
An attorney is a lawyer. Attorneys sue people, defend people, and serve as experts on the law. When there's any kind of legal issue, attorneys will be involved. They're the legal experts with law degrees who are also known as "lawyers." You'll often find them in court, defending clients or trying to put criminals in jail. Attorneys work for businesses, schools, the government, and individuals. So if you get arrested, need to write a will, or have to hash out a binding contract, an attorney is the person to call.
Vocabulary lists containing attorney
Monster
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Occupations
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Flush
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Just as with holding power of attorney, it’s not for the faint of heart.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 18, 2026
An attorney representing Chirkinian in the case did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 18, 2026
“It appears that, for reasons unclear, FDA political leadership has overruled the expert scientific conclusions of its own tobacco scientists,” said Glas attorney Stacy Ehrlich.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 17, 2026
Julia Rodgers, a family law attorney and the CEO of HelloPrenup, said that the book is “an indictment of how women are socialized around money and relationships.”
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 17, 2026
Did it ever occur to her that my uncle is a federal Indian law attorney and that we’ve had plenty of conversations about #LandBack?
From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
