Word
attorney
Phoneticsat·tor·ney, stress on the second syllable
US/əˈtɝni/
UK/ɐtˈɜːni/
Definitions
01a lawyer
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Law American English
n. a person whose job is to give legal advice and represent people in court.
n. a professional practitioner of law who provides legal advice and representation. In American English, this is the standard term for a lawyer.
日本語:弁護士※
“If you are arrested, you have the right to speak to an attorney.”
“The defense attorney argued that the evidence presented by the prosecution was circumstantial and insufficient for a conviction.”
Usage
In the US, 'attorney' is often used in formal contexts or titles, while 'lawyer' is more common in everyday speech.
Teaching tip
While 'lawyer' and 'attorney' are often interchangeable in the US, 'attorney' specifically implies the right to act for another in court.
02legal representative
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Law Formal
n. a person who has the legal power to act or make decisions for someone else.
n. an agent or representative authorized to act on behalf of another person, often in financial or medical matters.
日本語:代理人※
“She appointed her brother as her attorney to handle her bank accounts while she was ill.”
“The power of attorney allows the designated individual to sign binding contracts and manage assets on behalf of the grantor.”
Usage
Commonly found in the phrase 'power of attorney', which refers to the legal document or the authority itself.
Teaching tip
Explain to students that in this context, the 'attorney' does not necessarily have to be a professional lawyer; they are simply a legal proxy.
Synonyms
03honorific title
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Law American English · Formal
n. a title used before the name of a lawyer, often shortened to Atty.
n. a formal title or honorific used when addressing or referring to a member of the legal profession.
日本語:弁護士※
“The letter was addressed to Attorney Sarah Jenkins.”
“In certain jurisdictions, it is customary to address a notary or legal practitioner as Attorney followed by their surname.”
Usage
Often abbreviated as 'Atty.' in written correspondence and legal filings.
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “attorney” in context.
Verb
01. appoint an attorney
“The court will appoint an attorney if the defendant cannot afford private counsel.”
verb + noun
02. consult with an attorney
“You should consult with an attorney before signing any binding legal documents.”
verb + prep + noun
03. retain an attorney
“The corporation decided to retain a high-profile attorney to handle the merger.”
verb + noun
Adjective
04. court-appointed attorney
“The court-appointed attorney met with his client for the first time this morning.”
adj + noun
05. practicing attorney
“She has been a practicing attorney in the field of human rights for over a decade.”
adj + noun
Noun
06. attorney-client privilege
“The judge ruled that the documents were protected by attorney-client privilege.”
noun + noun
07. defense attorney
“The defense attorney argued that the evidence against his client was circumstantial.”
noun + noun
08. power of attorney
“He was granted power of attorney to manage his father's financial affairs.”
noun + of + noun
Real-World Examples
“The three people who went boating with Wells have all retained attorneys.” “The DHS investigative reports were disclosed by the government and submitted to the court by an attorney for one of the defendants.” “On Wednesday, a judge ruled Mexico’s attorney general had presented enough evidence to formally charge Aguirre with forced disappearance and ordered that he remain in a maximum security prison awaiting trial.” “Mike Andrews is an attorney with the Beasley Allen law firm which represents the families of 135 victims of the crash.” Etymology
From Middle English attourne, from Old French atorné, past participle of atorner, atourner, aturner (“to attorn”), in the sense of "one appointed or constituted".
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Related words
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- C1 · AdvancedOxford
- Updated
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「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0