magistrate

[maj-uh-streyt, -strit]

noun

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.

magistrate

/ 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

Other Word Forms

• magistrateship noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of magistrate¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of magistrate¹

C17: from Latin magistrātus, from magister master

Example Sentences

However, the girl refused to board the bus, magistrates at North Staffordshire Justice Centre were told.

Read more on BBC

Mr Mugabe wore joggers and a red cap while on his phone as he was led into the magistrates court on Thursday.

Read more on BBC

The circumstances around his death are unclear at this stage, and an investigation has been opened, the Paris prosecutor's office said, adding that a duty magistrate was "going to the scene".

Read more on BBC

There is additional information that I’ve had to amass on the criminal justice system, and to do this I’ve interviewed barristers, solicitors, magistrates and judges.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

A decision over whether he would stand trial for the UK charges has been delayed, with the chief magistrate saying he would make a decision on 26 September.

Read more on BBC