crown attorney: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2/ProfessionalFormal, Legal
Quick answer
What does “crown attorney” mean?
A lawyer who acts as a public prosecutor in criminal cases on behalf of the state (the Crown) in certain jurisdictions, most notably Canada.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A lawyer who acts as a public prosecutor in criminal cases on behalf of the state (the Crown) in certain jurisdictions, most notably Canada.
A legal officer representing the government in the prosecution of criminal offences in jurisdictions where the head of state is a monarch. The role involves evaluating police evidence, deciding on charges, and conducting trials in court to seek a conviction.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term 'crown attorney' is not standard in the UK or the USA. In the UK, the equivalent role is a 'Crown Prosecutor' (working for the Crown Prosecution Service). In the USA, the equivalent roles are 'district attorney' (DA), 'state's attorney', or 'prosecuting attorney'.
Connotations
In its core Canadian context, 'crown attorney' carries neutral, official connotations of state authority and the pursuit of justice. In US contexts, using this term would signal a foreign legal system and could cause confusion.
Frequency
Very high frequency in Canadian English within legal/news contexts; extremely low to zero frequency in American and British English, where local terms are used.
Grammar
How to Use “crown attorney” in a Sentence
The Crown Attorney [verb e.g., argued, presented, recommended, decided] something.The Crown Attorney for [Jurisdiction, e.g., Toronto, Ontario].Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in law courses, comparative legal studies, and criminology texts discussing Commonwealth criminal justice systems.
Everyday
Used in Canadian news reports about crime and court proceedings. Not typical in casual conversation.
Technical
Core terminology in Canadian criminal law, court documents, and legal proceedings.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “crown attorney”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “crown attorney”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “crown attorney”
- Using 'crown attorney' to refer to a prosecutor in the USA (use 'district attorney').
- Confusing a Crown Attorney (prosecutor) with a defence attorney.
- Capitalization: Often capitalized ('Crown Attorney') when referring to the official title, but not always required in running text.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. A Crown Attorney is the Canadian term for a public prosecutor. A District Attorney (DA) is the equivalent role in many US jurisdictions. The functions are similar, but the terms belong to different legal systems.
A Crown Attorney represents the state (symbolized by 'the Crown,' meaning the monarch as head of state) in criminal proceedings. Their goal is to prove the guilt of the accused, not to represent individual victims.
Typically, no. Crown Attorneys are government employees dedicated to prosecution. A lawyer would have to leave the Crown Attorney's office and enter private practice to regularly work as a defence attorney, to avoid conflicts of interest.
In Canada, 'Crown Attorney' is commonly used in provinces like Ontario, while 'Crown Counsel' is used in British Columbia. 'Crown Prosecutor' is the standard term in England and Wales. All refer to lawyers prosecuting criminal cases on behalf of the state.
A lawyer who acts as a public prosecutor in criminal cases on behalf of the state (the Crown) in certain jurisdictions, most notably Canada.
Crown attorney is usually formal, legal in register.
Crown attorney: in British English it is pronounced /ˌkraʊn əˈtɜːni/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌkraʊn əˈtɜːrni/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine the CROWN (the monarchy) hiring an ATTORNEY (lawyer) to represent its interests in court, specifically to prosecute crimes. The Crown Attorney works for the Crown, not for a private client.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE STATE IS THE CROWN (The prosecuting authority is metaphorically represented by the monarch's crown, symbolizing sovereign power and justice).
Practice
Quiz
In which country is the term 'crown attorney' a standard job title for a public prosecutor?