Appointments put back by district attorney (5)
I believe the answer is:
dates
'appointments' is the definition.
('date' can be a synonym of 'appointment')
'put back by district attorney' is the wordplay.
'put' becomes 'set' (setting is a kind of putting).
'back' says the letters should be written in reverse.
'by' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'district attorney' becomes 'da' ('D.A.' can be a synonym of 'district attorney').
'set' back-to-front is 'tes'.
'tes' after 'da' is 'DATES'.
(Other definitions for dates that I've seen before include "Occasions" , "appearing on most coins" , "Specified parts of the year" , "Fruits for social engagements" , "Small tree-fruits or social appointments" .)