public pretender
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
A public defender, viewed as inadequate.
Register: derogatory, slang
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
They tell me I'm due a fair trial, but they give me a public defender (or should I say public pretender?) that has four times his normal case load. So no matter how I feel or what I think, I'm forced to put all my faith in this public pretender and hope he hasn't sold me out too badly.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “public pretender” mean?
A public defender, viewed as inadequate.
Is “public pretender” formal or informal?
public pretender is generally derogatory, slang.