A lawyer is a person trained in the law who advises people about legal rights and represents them in court or legal matters.
From *law* plus the agent suffix *-yer* (related to *-er*), forming a word for someone who works with the law. The term became common as legal professions formalized.
A lawyer is literally a “law‑er”—someone who lives in, speaks, and navigates law the way others navigate a language. That’s why legal writing can feel foreign: you’re reading the lawyer’s native dialect, not yours.
The legal profession was male-dominated for centuries, with women formally barred from becoming lawyers or judges in many jurisdictions until the late 19th and 20th centuries. Even after entry, women lawyers have faced bias in hiring, promotion, and courtroom treatment.
Use 'lawyer' or 'attorney' as gender-neutral terms, and avoid assuming a lawyer is male by default. When using pronouns for hypothetical lawyers, vary or neutralize them instead of always using 'he'.
["attorney","legal professional","counsel"]
Women lawyers have led major civil rights, gender equality, and public interest cases, significantly shaping modern law despite systemic barriers.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.