Phrase guide

public defender

noun · 2 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 attorney appointed to represent people who cannot afford to hire one.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: law

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: defense attorney, defender, attorney, lawyer, barrister, solicitor, counsel, counselor, advocate

2

noun

Meaning 2

a lawyer who represents indigent defendants at public expense

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: lawyer, attorney

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

14 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Catalan: advocat d'ofici — attorney
  • Chinese Mandarin: 公設辯護人 /公设辩护人 (gōngshè biànhùrén) — attorney
  • Finnish: julkinen oikeusavustaja — attorney
  • Galician: avogado de oficio — attorney
  • Georgian: სახალხო დამცველი (saxalxo damcveli) — attorney
  • German: Pflichtverteidiger — attorney
  • German: Pflichtverteidigerin — attorney
  • Hungarian: kirendelt ügyvéd — attorney
  • Hungarian: kirendelt védő — attorney
  • Korean: 국선변호인 (gukseonbyeonhoin) — attorney
  • Polish: obrońca z urzędu — attorney
  • Spanish: abogado de oficio — attorney
  • Spanish: abogado de pobres — attorney
  • Swedish: offentlig försvarare — attorney