magistrate
Americannoun
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a civil officer charged with the administration of the law.
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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.
noun
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a public officer concerned with the administration of law
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another name for justice of the peace
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the former name for district court judge
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of magistrate
1350–1400; Middle English magistrat < Latin magistrātus magistracy, magistrate, equivalent to magist ( e ) r master + -ātus -ate 3
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.
Vocabulary lists containing magistrate
"The Crucible" -- Vocabulary from all 4 Acts
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Occupations
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"The Crucible" -- Vocabulary from Act 2
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Last week Magistrate Judge Maritza D. Braswell of the District of Colorado reached the same conclusion in Morgan v.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 6, 2026
The Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring told them they would remain in prison until their next court appearance at the Old Bailey on 17 April.
From BBC • Mar. 19, 2026
Cesena Camacho appeared in court March 3 before Magistrate Judge Jill L. Burkhardt, who ordered him held without bail citing flight risk.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 9, 2026
An inquest into Nkanu's death is due to begin on 14 April at the Yaba Magistrate Court in Lagos.
From BBC • Mar. 4, 2026
Magistrate Tiger's most coveted wish was to be of royal blood.
From "Where the Mountain Meets the Moon" by Grace Lin
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
