'Jurist' vs. 'Juror': What's the Difference?

When comparing the words ‘jurist’ vs ‘juror,’ it’s easy to confuse the two because they are so similar.

The basic difference between these nouns is:

• A jurist is an expert in the law

• A juror is a person that serves on a jury

‘Jurist’ vs. ‘Juror’: Understanding the Difference

‘Jurist’ and ‘juror’ are related but different words to describe separate roles within legal matters. While you might assume that both of them refer to a person who serves on a jury, this isn’t the case.

A ‘juror’ is a person that serves on a jury. A ‘jurist,’ on the other hand, is a person that is an expert in the law. Specifically, the word describes an individual that is an authority when it comes to legal matters.

What Does ‘Jurist’ Mean?

‘Jurist’ is a noun that refers to a person that is thoroughly knowledgeable regarding the law.

Definition of ‘Jurist’

According to Merriam-Webster, the definition of ‘jurist’ is:

“One having a thorough knowledge of the law.”

This word is particularly used to describe a judge.

This word can also be used to refer to a lawyer or legal scholar whose skill is so well renowned that their arguments and writings are looked to as a source of law.

While this might seem a bit confusing, the reality is that a lawyer can be a jurist, and a jurist can be a lawyer, but that doesn’t mean that the words are always interchangeable.

Example Sentences Using ‘Jurist’

Let’s take a look at some examples of using the word ‘jurist’ in a sentence.’

• He was a well-respected jurist with great authority in the community.
• The jurist wrote a best-selling book.
• Though the jurist was soft-spoken, he was so well-respected everyone was careful to listen closely when he spoke.
• His father was a widely-known jurist in Washington, D.C.
• He was a historian and a jurist whose opinion was much sought-after.

Synonyms for ‘Jurist’

There are a number of words that have a similar meaning to the word ‘jurist.’ Some examples include:

• Bench
• Adjudicator
• Judge
• Magistrate
• Justice
• Beak (primarily in UK English)

The Origin of ‘Jurist’

The word ‘jurist’ dates back to the mid-fifteenth century to mean ‘one who practices law.’ It comes from the French word ‘juriste,’ which itself stems from the Medieval Latin word ‘iurista.’

What Does ‘Juror’ Mean?

‘Juror’ is a noun that refers to a person that is summoned to serve on a jury, is currently a member of a jury, or has taken an oath of allegiance.

Definition of ‘Juror’

The most common definition of the word ‘juror’ is ‘a member of a jury.’

A ‘jury’ is a group of people that have been sworn to deliver a verdict in a specific court case.

According to Merriam-Webster, there are two additional definitions of ‘juror’:

• A person summoned to serve on a jury

• A person who takes an oath (as of allegiance)

Example Sentences Using ‘Juror’

Now that we understand the meaning of the word ‘juror,’ let’s see some examples of how it can be used in a sentence.

• Due to legal cause, a juror was excused.
• The juror later felt deep regret regarding their vote in the murder trial.
• Before the trial was over, the jurors heard from 45 witnesses.
• One juror was rejected because she felt she could not be impartial due to the gruesome nature of the accusation against the person standing trial.
• The jurors were able to reach a unanimous verdict after only two hours.
• It took the jurors four days to deliberate on this case.
• The jurors began their deliberation on Friday.
• He was hoping the jurors would be sympathetic, however, they seemed to have already made up their minds.

Synonyms for ‘Juror’

There are a few words that have a similar meaning to the word ‘juror.’ Examples include:

• Hearer
• Juryman
• Jurywoman

The Origin of ‘Juror’

The word ‘juror’ dates back to around 1300 with the meaning ‘one who serves on a jury.’ It comes from the Anglo-French word ‘jurour,’ which was used as early as the late 1200s.

Final Thoughts on ‘Jurist’ Vs. ‘Juror’

Now that you have a clearer sense of the difference between ‘jurist’ and ‘juror,’ you can confidently use them in both spoken and written language.

For more in-depth explanations of the most common confusing words, be sure to check out the rest of our blog.