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

The magistrate judge ordered the four released on personal recognizance and said they were not required to be under supervision.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 20, 2026

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

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 27, 2026

He spoke only to confirm he could hear the chief magistrate, and to give his name and date of birth.

From BBC ● Sep. 21, 2026

On Friday, a magistrate judge told both sides to identify dates in late October to meet for court-ordered settlement talks.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 14, 2026

The magistrate would forgo taxing Painter Chen's old hometown village for a year and Painter Chen would paint the magistrate a dragon.

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

Under state law, magistrates are to “impose the least onerous conditions” when deciding bail and should set bail “as low as the court determines is necessary” to assure the defendant returns to court.

From Salon ● Oct. 28, 2026

Under the government's plan magistrates will have the power to jail for up to two years - the aim being to keep more cases out of Crown Court, to help clear backlogs.

From BBC ● Oct. 13, 2026

District Judge Briony Clarke said the case could be tried in the magistrates court, but Toney elected for a Crown Court trial in front of a judge and jury.

From BBC ● Oct. 1, 2026

He is due before Portsmouth magistrates on Monday.

From BBC ● Sep. 13, 2026

The local magistrates had become increasingly nervous of invasion by the Seljuk Turks or even Frankish armies all the way from the western edge of the world.

From "The Many Assassinations of Samir, the Seller of Dreams" by Daniel Nayeri

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