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
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
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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Treasure Island
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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.
Magistrate Judge Sarah Netburn in Manhattan federal court on Friday and was ordered detained pending trial.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 15, 2026
Magistrate Judge Peggy Cross-Goldenberg that he helped others gain access to the building where the hip-hop icon, born Jason Mizell, was shot in 2002.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 27, 2026
Magistrate Jane Haynes sentenced the footballer to a £660 fine, with an order to pay £120 in costs and a £264 victim surcharge.
From BBC • Mar. 26, 2026
Magistrate Hugh Donnelly said he would give his ruling on the suppression order on April 2.
From Barron's • Mar. 17, 2026
"I don't know, Magistrate," the emissary said, "but tkere was one soldier wko almost caugkt it and was closest to it. Perkaps ke was able to read the line."
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.
