barrister C2+ Topic:People & Society US /ˈbærɪstɚ/ UK /ˈbærɪstə/ See IPA manual Minimal pairs Sounds like baluster /l/ vs /ɹ/ 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... advocatecounsellawyerattorneycounselor Word family Related forms bar Etymology AI details 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 External links Cambridge Dictionary Wiktionary Google Images # 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 markdown