Meaning & use
amicus
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Meanings
nouncountablelegaltechnical
Short for amicus curiae: a person or group who is not a party to a court case but offers information or arguments to help the judges decide.
Grammar: Countable; often used before brief: an amicus brief.
Patterns
- file an amicus brief
- an amicus for someone
Several civil rights groups filed an amicus in support of the appeal.
The court invited an amicus to explain the technical issues.
The law professor appeared as amicus in the case.
adjectivebefore a nounlegal
Relating to a friend of the court, as in an amicus brief submitted by an outside party.
Grammar: Used before a noun: an amicus brief.
Patterns
- amicus brief
The association submitted an amicus brief to the Supreme Court.
Dozens of amicus briefs were filed in the case.
Word forms
| plural | amici |
|---|
Common combinations
- amicus brief
- The group filed an amicus brief supporting the school.
- amicus curiae
- She served as amicus curiae in the case.
- file an amicus
- The union decided to file an amicus.
- amicus participation
- Amicus participation helped the judges understand the issue.
Synonyms and how they differ
- friend of the court
- Friend of the court is the plain-English translation of the Latin and is easier for non-lawyers.
- intervener
- An intervener becomes a party to the case, whereas an amicus does not.
- third-party adviser
- Third-party adviser is a loose description, but amicus is the specific legal role.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: amicus or amicable?
amicus vs amicable
Amicable means friendly, as in an amicable divorce. Amicus is a legal role.
Practice
A nonprofit that is not part of the lawsuit sent the judges a written argument as ______.
Choose one answer.
An amicus is an outside party giving advice to a court. A plaintiff and a defendant are the parties, and a witness gives testimony rather than a legal argument.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “amicus”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.