special counsel

noun

: counsel appointed to fill a particular need: as

a

: a federal government official appointed by the Attorney General to investigate and prosecute government corruption in cases where the Attorney General's office has a conflict of interest

b

: a federal government official appointed to protect federal employees from illegal practices by employers and especially from employer reprisal for whistleblowing

Examples of special counsel in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Fani Willis on their separate criminal cases against Trump by placing the former special counsel on Willis’ home turf of Atlanta in 2024. — Lorraine Ali, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026

The former special counsel also cited former Vice President Mike Pence, who refused to go along with a plan to overturn the results of the 2020 election by rejecting the electoral votes of battleground states that Biden won. — Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 29 Sep. 2026

The town board on Monday approved retaining law firm Sweetbaum Miller PC and attorney Alan Sweetbaum as special counsel for the gate project, according to meeting records. — Jessica Alvarado Gamez, Denver Post, 19 Aug. 2026

Both lawyers were also involved in deliberations surrounding the appointment of special counsel Robert Mueller. — Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 10 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1818, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for special counsel

• council

Legal Definition

special counsel

noun

: counsel appointed to fill a particular need

specifically, capitalized : a government official charged with protecting employees from illegal practices by employers and especially from employer reprisal for whistleblowing