the chief law officer of a country or state and head of its legal department. att. gen.
Attorney General, the head of the U.S. Department of Justice: a member of the president's cabinet. Atty. Gen.
(in the United Kingdom except Scotland) the senior law officer and chief legal counsel of the Crown: a member of the government and of the House of Commons
(in the US) the chief law officer and legal adviser to the Administration: head of the Department of Justice and member of the cabinet
(in Australia and New Zealand) the chief government law officer: a member of Parliament and usually a cabinet minister
a country's chief law officer and senior legal adviser to its government
(in the US) the chief law officer and legal adviser of a state government
(in some states of the US) a public prosecutor
First recorded in 1575–85
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Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Senate, governor and attorney general — suggest lots of room for movement in the less than 12 weeks remaining until Oct.
From Salon ● Jul. 29, 2026
On Kalshi, users can bet on markets tied to Wisconsin elections, including who will win the gubernatorial race or become attorney general.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 26, 2026
Rob Bonta, attorney general of California, which is leading a coalition of 12 states which last week sued to block the deal, welcomed the agreement.
From Barron's ● Jul. 24, 2026
Gates, who left the department in November, is now the Republican candidate challenging Bonta to be state attorney general.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 19, 2026
They were arguing about the telegram that had just arrived from the attorney general.
From "Most Dangerous: Daniel Ellsberg and the Secret History of the Vietnam War" by Steve Sheinkin
Idaho Attorney General Raúl Labrador paid tribute to the victims' families, saying they had "already endured unimaginable loss and now must face today's deeply painful news".
From BBC ● Jul. 28, 2026
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche has said prosecutors shouldn’t view prosecuting companies as their goal and should instead focus on holding individual wrongdoers accountable.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 19, 2026
“The President and the Attorney General, subject to the president’s supervision and control, shall provide authoritative interpretations of law for the executive branch.”
From Slate ● Jul. 14, 2026
ConserveOhio completed the first three steps by April, getting approval from the Ohio Attorney General to move forward with signature collection at the beginning of the month.
From Salon ● Jul. 9, 2026
"Your friend is not in danger," said the Attorney General.
From "Holes" by Louis Sachar
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.
