attorney
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
a person whose job is to give legal advice and represent people in court.
a professional practitioner of law who provides legal advice and representation. In American English, this is the standard term for a lawyer.
Simple“If you are arrested, you have the right to speak to an attorney.”
In context“The defense attorney argued that the evidence presented by the prosecution was circumstantial and insufficient for a conviction.”
UsageIn the US, 'attorney' is often used in formal contexts or titles, while 'lawyer' is more common in everyday speech.
Teacher's tipWhile 'lawyer' and 'attorney' are often interchangeable in the US, 'attorney' specifically implies the right to act for another in court.
- 02 C1 Advanced
a person who has the legal power to act or make decisions for someone else.
an agent or representative authorized to act on behalf of another person, often in financial or medical matters.
Simple“She appointed her brother as her attorney to handle her bank accounts while she was ill.”
In context“The power of attorney allows the designated individual to sign binding contracts and manage assets on behalf of the grantor.”
UsageCommonly found in the phrase 'power of attorney', which refers to the legal document or the authority itself.
Teacher's tipExplain to students that in this context, the 'attorney' does not necessarily have to be a professional lawyer; they are simply a legal proxy.
Synonyms - 03 C1 Advanced
a title used before the name of a lawyer, often shortened to Atty.
a formal title or honorific used when addressing or referring to a member of the legal profession.
Simple“The letter was addressed to Attorney Sarah Jenkins.”
In context“In certain jurisdictions, it is customary to address a notary or legal practitioner as Attorney followed by their surname.”
UsageOften abbreviated as 'Atty.' in written correspondence and legal filings.
Usage attorney general
“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.”
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.