Basic Details
Word: Barrister
Part of Speech: Noun
Meaning: A lawyer, especially in Britain, who is qualified to argue cases in the higher courts.
Synonyms: lawyer, advocate, counsel
How to Spell Barrister
Syllables: bar - ris - ter
Tricky part: Two r's, then a single s and a single t. The ending is -er, not -or.
Watch out for: barister, barrester, barristor
Memory tip: A barrister is called to the Bar, the name for the legal profession. Write bar, then rister, and the two r's meet in the middle.
Usage Examples
Example 1: The barrister stood up and asked the witness one more question.
Example 2: My uncle studied law in London and came home as a barrister.
Example 3: The barrister's black gown was hanging on a hook behind the door.
Fun Fact
Mahatma Gandhi qualified as a barrister in London in 1891, before returning to India.
Practise the CREST Way
Spell-o-Spell
Three words in the list are spelt correctly and one is misspelt. Choose the meaning of the misspelt word.
1. affidavit 2. barister 3. testimony 4. tribunal
a) a formal statement made by a witness
b) a written statement sworn to be true
c) a body set up to settle certain kinds of disputes
d) a lawyer who argues cases in the higher courts
Show answer
d) a lawyer who argues cases in the higher courts. Count the r's: bar, then rister, gives two of them, and the list shows only one.
Word Cookie
One letter in this word is not needed. Find it:
barristter
a) t
b) i
c) s
d) r
Show answer
a) t. Barrister has only one t, near the end.
Word Connection
Choose the synonym of the word barrister as used in the sentence:
The family hired a well-known barrister to argue their case in the High Court.
a) clerk
b) jailer
c) judge
d) lawyer
Show answer
d) lawyer. A barrister is a kind of lawyer; the judge is the one who decides the case.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Where would you most likely see a barrister at work?
a) in a courtroom
b) in a bakery
c) in a garage
d) on a farm
Show answer
a) in a courtroom
2. In Indian courts, a lawyer who argues cases is usually called ____.
a) a chemist
b) an advocate
c) an auditor
d) a surgeon
Show answer
b) an advocate
