# amicus

/əˈmikəs/ (US) · CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/amicus
Updated: 2026-05-28

## Definition

a person who is not a party to a legal case but wants to help the court by sharing information. They are like a friend of the court who gives their opinion on the law.

For teachers: a person who is not a party to a legal proceeding but is permitted to assist the court by providing information or arguments. Often used in the phrase 'amicus curiae' to describe a friend of the court.

## Examples

- The lawyer acted as an amicus to help the judge understand the new law.
- The Supreme Court allowed the amicus to present a brief explaining how the ruling would affect small businesses.
- While not a formal party to the dispute, the amicus provided a comprehensive analysis of the historical precedents that eventually influenced the final verdict.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.