Meaning & use
opposing counsel
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Meaning
noununcountablelegallawformal
The lawyer or legal team representing the other side in a legal case.
Grammar: Uncountable when meaning the lawyer or team; no plural form: Opposing counsel objected.
Patterns
- opposing counsel objected
- address opposing counsel
- opposing counsel for the defendant
Opposing counsel objected to the question, and the judge sustained the objection.
She addressed opposing counsel politely before the hearing began.
Opposing counsel for the defendant argued that the evidence was unreliable.
Common combinations
- opposing counsel objected
- Opposing counsel objected, but the judge allowed the question.
- address opposing counsel
- The attorney stood up to address opposing counsel.
- opposing counsel for the defendant
- Opposing counsel for the defendant requested a delay.
- agree with opposing counsel
- I find myself agreeing with opposing counsel on this point.
Synonyms and how they differ
- opposing lawyer
- Opposing lawyer is a more everyday term and can be used in both British and American English; opposing counsel is more formal and common in US courtrooms.
- the other side
- The other side is an informal way to refer to the opposing party or their lawyer; it is less precise than opposing counsel.
Word family
Commonly confused: opposing counsel or council?
opposing counsel vs council
Council is a group that governs a town or organization; counsel means a lawyer or advice. They sound the same but are different words.
Practice
During the trial, ______ cross-examined the witness aggressively.
Choose one answer.
The correct term is 'opposing counsel', which is uncountable and refers to the lawyer for the other side. 'Councils' are governing bodies, 'counselor' is a different role, and 'counsels' is not used this way.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “opposing counsel”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.