lawyer
lawyer Lexical Profile
lawyer Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A professional who is qualified to offer advice about the law, draft legal documents, or represent individuals and organizations in legal matters and court proceedings.
"She consulted her lawyer before signing the commercial real estate contract."
American The burbot (Lota lota), a freshwater codlike fish native to northern North America and Eurasia, or any of several other North American fishes such as the bowfin or mangrove snapper.
"Anglers fishing through the ice in the Great Lakes region occasionally catch a burbot, locally known as a lawyer."
• verb
American To request legal representation and refuse to answer further questions during a police interrogation (usually used with 'up').
"The suspect immediately lawyered up as soon as the detectives began asking about his alibi."
To practice law or work as a legal representative.
"He lawyered for a nonprofit environmental group for ten years before joining the faculty."
Word Nuance & Usage
'Lawyer' is a general term for anyone educated in law, whereas 'attorney' (specifically in American English) refers to a lawyer who is licensed to practice law and represent clients in court.
• Rhymes for lawyer
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
From Middle English lawier, formed from the noun law (of Old Norse origin, from lagu) plus the agent suffix -yer (a variant of -ier or -er).