Phrase guide

King's Counsel

noun · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

noun

Meaning 1

An honorific status officially conferred on senior or meritorious barristers (and occasionally other kinds of lawyer) during the reign of a king.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: Canada, New-Zealand, UK

Qualifier: occasionally Australia

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

A barrister or advocate appointed by the Crown during the reign of a king.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: UK, historical

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

Counsel to the Crown when the British monarch is a king

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: Counsel to the Crown

History

Etymology

king's + counsel

Across languages

Translations

6 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 御用大律師 /御用大律师 (yùyòng dàlǜshī) — a barrister
  • German: Kronanwalt — a barrister
  • German: Kronanwältin — a barrister
  • Volapük: kronalavogan — a barrister
  • Volapük: kronahilavogan — a barrister
  • Volapük: kronajilavogan — a barrister