What does disbarring mean?
Disbarring is the formal process by which a court or professional authority expels a lawyer from the legal profession, stripping them of the license to practise law. The term derives from the verb 'to disbar', where 'bar' refers to the physical barrier in a courtroom separating the public from the bench — only those admitted may pass it. Disbarring is reserved for serious breaches of professional conduct, such as fraud, misappropriation of client funds, or repeated ethical violations, and it is generally regarded as the gravest sanction available against an attorney. In British usage, an equivalent outcome is often described as being 'struck off' the roll of solicitors. The word appears mainly in legal reporting and disciplinary proceedings, and its use signals severe professional disgrace rather than mere censure.
noun (gerund of the verb 'disbar')The act of formally expelling a lawyer or barrister from the legal profession, typically as punishment for professional misconduct.
- The formal expulsion of an attorney, barrister, or advocate from the practice of law by a court or bar authority, usually for misconduct.
"The committee recommended disbarring the attorney for mishandling client funds."
"The disciplinary panel voted unanimously on disbarring the partner who had embezzled trust funds."
"Critics argued that disbarring was too harsh a sanction for what was ultimately a technical violation."
One bad day in court can end with a lawyer losing the right ever to practice again — that's disbarring, the legal profession's ultimate penalty.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of disbarring
The verb 'disbar' combines the prefix 'dis-' (indicating removal or reversal) with 'bar', from Old French 'barre', meaning a barrier or rod. The legal sense of 'bar' dates to medieval England, when a literal railing separated the area where advocates stood from the rest of the courtroom; to be 'called to the bar' meant admission to practise, so to be 'disbarred' meant exclusion from it. Related words sharing this root include 'barrister', 'barrier', and 'embarrass'.
Related word forms
How disbarring is actually used
The word is used almost exclusively in legal and journalistic contexts and carries strong connotations of professional disgrace. It appears most often as a gerund following verbs such as 'face', 'risk', or 'recommend'.
Easily confused with disbarring
'Disarming' means charming or removing weapons, while 'disbarring' refers specifically to expelling a lawyer from legal practice.