magistrate

American  

[maj-uh-strayt, -strit] / ˈmædʒ əˌstreɪt, -strɪt /

noun

• magistrates
  plural

1. 

   a civil officer charged with the administration of the law.

2. a minor judicial officer, as a justice of the peace or the judge of a police court, having jurisdiction to try minor criminal cases and to conduct preliminary examinations of persons charged with serious crimes.

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magistrate British  

/ ˈmædʒɪˌstreɪt, -strɪt /

noun

1. a public officer concerned with the administration of law

2. another name for justice of the peace

3. the former name for district court judge

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• magistrateship
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• magistrates
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of magistrate

1350–1400; Middle English magistrat < Latin magistrātus magistracy, magistrate, equivalent to magist ( e ) r master + -ātus -ate ³

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Explanation

A magistrate is a person who lays down the law — a judge or other civil authority who conducts a court. Minor offenses are often brought before a magistrate. Magistrate goes back to the Latin magistratus, meaning "administrator." Lawmakers and judges might have a role in making and changing laws; magistrates focus on carrying out the laws on a case-by-case basis. A magistrate doesn't usually make final rulings on murders or high-level cases. He or she might hear cases about things like property damage or traffic violations.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

magistrate magistrates

A federal magistrate judge subsequently recommended overturning the conviction due to ineffective defense counsel.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 27, 2026

The Labour politician, 55, was found guilty of keeping an unlicensed vehicle by a magistrate last month in a criminal prosecution brought by the DVLA.

From BBC ● Sep. 3, 2026

The Labour politician, 55, was found guilty by a magistrate last month of keeping an unlicensed vehicle, in a criminal prosecution brought by the DVLA.

From BBC ● Sep. 2, 2026

She dreams of becoming a district magistrate, a powerful field bureaucrat.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 15, 2026

With Anmin’s help, Farin appealed to the provincial magistrate, who also sided with the merchant.

From "Huntress" by Malinda Lo

They added that sentencing decisions are made by independent judges and magistrates, in line with the sentencing guidelines.

From BBC ● Oct. 8, 2026

Andrew Thomas KC - chairman of the Criminal Bar Association, which represents barristers who work in crown and magistrates courts - said the profession was "delighted".

From BBC ● Oct. 4, 2026

This is up from an earlier £25,000 security imposed by magistrates.

From BBC ● Sep. 28, 2026

A 20-year-old man, Diego Farquharson, of Birchen Grove, Brent, has been charged with assisting an offender and is due to appear before magistrates on Monday.

From BBC ● Aug. 30, 2026

“It’s interesting how all the magistrates and king’s fathers in your stories seem to have the same personality. It’s as if they could all be the same person.”

From "When the Sea Turned to Silver" by Grace Lin

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