a court having limited jurisdiction over minor civil and criminal matters, as matters of contract not exceeding a particular amount of money.
First recorded in 1865–70
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
She pleaded guilty in a magistrate's court in the capital, Lusaka, and apologised to the president for her comments.
From BBC ● Dec. 2, 2025
They appeared at a magistrate's court in Eswatini on Tuesday.
From BBC ● Feb. 28, 2024
He was sentenced to two years in prison by a magistrate’s court but the courts suspended his prison sentence in April.
From Seattle Times ● Aug. 4, 2023
Chow Hang-tung, 38, a prominent Hong Kong pro-democracy activist and former vice-chairperson of the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Patriotic Democratic Movements in China, was among those convicted by a magistrate's court.
From Reuters ● Mar. 11, 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
Connor Bishop, 24, Reece Robinson, 21, and Noah Etherington, 18, all admitted to the charge during magistrates' court hearings in Southampton and Portsmouth.
From BBC ● Jun. 5, 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 vast majority of those cases were processed through the magistrates' court which has lower sentencing powers.
From BBC ● Jul. 3, 2025
On 12 June, three members were fined by a magistrates' court for hanging a banner at a street booth while collecting money from the public without permission.
From BBC ● Jun. 29, 2025
They had left the market-town immediately after Frank's little matter in the magistrates' court, and had done pretty well, arriving in York ten days ago.
From None Other Gods by Benson, Robert Hugh
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.
