public defender: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Formal, Legal, Journalistic
Quick answer
What does “public defender” mean?
A lawyer appointed by the state or a court to represent a defendant who cannot afford to hire a private attorney.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A lawyer appointed by the state or a court to represent a defendant who cannot afford to hire a private attorney.
A government-funded legal professional in a criminal justice system tasked with providing legal counsel to indigent clients.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is predominantly American. The UK equivalent system is a 'solicitor' or 'barrister' provided through the Legal Aid scheme, often referred to as a 'duty solicitor' or 'legal aid lawyer'.
Connotations
In the US, it strongly connotes the specific state-funded office. In the UK, the concept exists but without this specific job title.
Frequency
Very high frequency in US legal and news contexts. Rare to non-existent in UK contexts except when discussing US legal affairs.
Grammar
How to Use “public defender” in a Sentence
The court appointed [a public defender] for [the defendant].[A public defender] represented [the accused].[The defendant] was assigned [a public defender].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “public defender” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- N/A
American English
- She spent ten years in the public-defender office. (hyphenated attributive use)
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in discussions of criminal justice, sociology, and legal studies.
Everyday
Used when discussing news stories about crime or personal legal troubles.
Technical
Core term in U.S. legal procedure and constitutional law (Sixth Amendment right to counsel).
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “public defender”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “public defender”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “public defender”
- Using 'public defender' to refer to any lawyer defending someone (it's a specific job).
- Confusing a public defender with a prosecutor.
- Saying 'My private public defender' (contradictory).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, a public defender is a fully qualified, licensed attorney who specializes in criminal defense but is employed by the government.
No, typically the court assigns a public defender from the local office based on availability. You cannot select a specific individual.
Yes, their services are provided at no direct cost to indigent defendants, though the court may later require the defendant to repay some fees if they become able.
A public defender is a government employee representing indigent clients, while a private attorney is hired and paid directly by the client. Public defenders often handle very high caseloads.
A lawyer appointed by the state or a court to represent a defendant who cannot afford to hire a private attorney.
Public defender is usually formal, legal, journalistic in register.
Public defender: in British English it is pronounced /ˌpʌblɪk dɪˈfendə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌpʌblɪk dɪˈfɛndər/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Overworked as a public defender.”
- “The public defender shuffle (rapidly handling many cases).”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
A PUBLIC servant who DEFENDs people in court.
Conceptual Metaphor
LEGAL DEFENSE IS A SHIELD (provided by the public).
Practice
Quiz
In which country is 'public defender' a standard, official job title within the legal system?