magistrate's court
noun
a court having limited jurisdiction over minor civil and criminal matters, as matters of contract not exceeding a particular amount of money.
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magistrate's court
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magistrates' court
magistrates' courtnoun(in England) a court of summary jurisdiction held before two or more justices of the peace or a stipendiary magistrate to deal with minor crimes, certain civil actions, and preliminary hearings
magistrate's court
Americannoun
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a court having limited jurisdiction over minor civil and criminal matters, as matters of contract not exceeding a particular amount of money.
magistrates' court
British
noun
Etymology
Origin of magistrate's court
First recorded in 1865–70
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.
See Examples For:
Ratna Singh, the CJP's head lawyer, said in a social media post that Dipke and the others had been released by an executive magistrate's court.
From Barron's ● Oct. 11, 2026
Erias Lukwago appeared before a magistrate's court in the capital Kampala looking visibly weak, local media reported, days after he was arrested at his home.
From BBC ● Jun. 18, 2026
Pictures from the magistrate's court in eastern Uganda show him dressed in a white tunic, or kanzu, and walking with the aid of a crutch under his right arm.
From BBC ● Nov. 13, 2023
The move by a magistrate’s court follows similar actions in early August against Apple and the Wikimedia Foundation that hosts Wikipedia.
From Seattle Times ● Aug. 17, 2023
In the magistrate’s court, Sobukwe announced the PAC would not attempt to defend itself, in accordance with their slogan “No bail, no defense, no fine.”
From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela
The Cheshire-based firm was fined £240,000 at a magistrates' court hearing in 2024 over the HSE's findings, before facing High Court proceedings brought by Pugh, from Bangor, Gwynedd.
From BBC ● Oct. 10, 2026
Fines of up to £5,000 are given for large-scale, repeat or commercial fly-tipping incidents which also involve a trip to the magistrates' court.
From BBC ● Jun. 22, 2026
If the increased fine is then not paid within 28 days - or a child is off school three or more times within three years - the matter can be taken to magistrates' court.
From BBC ● Oct. 27, 2025
The judge said the case was too serious and complex to be dealt with in the magistrates' court and would be sent to the crown court.
From BBC ● Aug. 4, 2025
The two wounded men were informed that a magistrates' court was sitting, but evinced no anxiety to lodge a complaint against any person or persons in connection with their injuries.
From Two Knapsacks A Novel of Canadian Summer Life by John Campbell
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Get a wordDefinitions 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.
