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public defender
noun
: a lawyer usually holding public office whose duty is to defend accused persons unable to pay for legal assistance
Examples of public defender in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
For the record, there are plenty of skilled public defenders out there.
—Sara Netzley, EW.com, 10 Dec. 2024
Patel started his career as a public defender in Florida and later became a federal prosecutor.
—Audrey Nguyen, NPR, 10 Dec. 2024
In the new filing, Routh’s public defenders said the government’s discovery production only became accessible on Nov. 19, more than four months after his indictment.
—Ella Lee, The Hill, 9 Dec. 2024
Advertisement Wen’s federal public defender did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
—Brittny Mejia, Los Angeles Times, 3 Dec. 2024
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Word History
First Known Use
1822, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near public defender
Cite this Entry
“Public defender.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/public%20defender. Accessed 25 Dec. 2024.
Legal Definition
public defender
noun
: a lawyer usually holding public office who represents criminal defendants unable to pay for legal assistance
More from Merriam-Webster on public defender
Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for public defender
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about public defender
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