barrister

C2+ Topic:People & Society

US /ˈbærɪstɚ/ UK /ˈbærɪstə/ See IPA manual

Minimal pairs

Sounds like baluster /l/ vs /r/

noun

Meanings

1

noun
a lawyer qualified to plead in the higher courts (chiefly British)

The barrister donned her wig and addressed the bench.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · a lawyer qualified to plead... advocate counsel lawyer attorney counselor

Word family

Related forms bar

Etymology

From bar (the railing in court separating counsel from the public, hence the legal profession) plus an ending modeled on minister; one 'called to the bar'.

barre Old French

View etymology graph ->

Topics

People & Society Word Formation & Derivatives Register & Style

# barrister

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** ˈbærɪstɚ
**IPA (UK):** ˈbærɪstə

## Meanings
1. a lawyer qualified to plead in the higher courts (chiefly British)

## Examples
- The barrister donned her wig and addressed the bench.

## Synonyms
- advocate
- counsel
- lawyer
- attorney
- counselor

## Related Forms
- bar

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: barre

## Etymology
From bar (the railing in court separating counsel from the public, hence the legal profession) plus an ending modeled on minister; one 'called to the bar'.

## AI Etymology
Barrister is a noun meaning "a lawyer qualified to plead in the higher courts (chiefly British)". Historically, it is from bar (the railing in court separating counsel from the public, hence the legal profession) plus an ending modeled on minister; one 'called to the bar'. The visible construction is part of the etymology: barrister is not just an unanalyzed simple word. The historical chain is anchored in Old French barre. A close English family member is bar.

## Topics
- People & Society
- Word Formation & Derivatives
- Register & Style

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barrister

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