barrister
barrister Lexical Profile
barrister Game Scores & Validity
• noun
British A lawyer entitled to practice as an advocate and represent clients in the higher courts of law, especially in the United Kingdom and certain Commonwealth jurisdictions.
"The defense instructed a prominent barrister to cross-examine the key witness during the High Court trial."
Word Nuance & Usage
In British and Commonwealth legal systems, a barrister specializes in courtroom advocacy and litigation, whereas a solicitor primarily handles out-of-court legal work and client consultations. Do not confuse with the near-homophone 'barista', which refers to a coffeehouse employee.
Word Origin & Etymology
Coined in 15th-century Middle English from 'bar' (referring to the railing in an Inn of Court or courtroom that separated the bench from the hall) combined with the suffix '-ister', modeled on words like 'minister'.