1. a senior member of an Inn of Court in England who helps govern the institution and has the authority to call students to the bar
Usage: legal; British
2. a person who sits on a bench, especially a judge or magistrate
Usage: formal

Examples

• The bencher presided over the disciplinary hearing at Lincoln’s Inn.
• As a senior bencher, she had significant influence over legal education policy.
• The benchers voted to admit the new class of barristers.
• He was appointed as a bencher after twenty years of distinguished legal practice.
• The bencher delivered the judgment with authority and precision.
• Several benchers attended the ceremonial dinner at the Inn of Court.