attorney general
Americannoun
plural
attorneys general, attorney generals-
the chief law officer of a country or state and head of its legal department. att. gen.
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Attorney General, the head of the U.S. Department of Justice: a member of the president's cabinet. Atty. Gen.
noun
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(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
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(in the US) the chief law officer and legal adviser to the Administration: head of the Department of Justice and member of the cabinet
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(in Australia and New Zealand) the chief government law officer: a member of Parliament and usually a cabinet minister
noun
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a country's chief law officer and senior legal adviser to its government
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(in the US) the chief law officer and legal adviser of a state government
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(in some states of the US) a public prosecutor
Etymology
Origin of attorney general
First recorded in 1575–85
Compare meaning
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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.
The state attorney general’s office said previously that the office took over reviewing the case because of the “potential conflict of interest” involving the Kern County district attorney’s office.
From Los Angeles Times
Constellation agreed to divest six plants in Texas, Delaware, and Pennsylvania as part of an agreement announced last month with the Texas attorney general and the Department of Justice.
From Barron's
A Nigerian court has granted bail to the country's former attorney general, Abubakar Malami, along with his wife and son, who are facing money laundering charges.
From BBC
Alzubidi will be referred to the attorney general, the presidency said in a statement, accusing him of a series of crimes.
From Barron's
The US attorney general said Maduro had been indicted on drugs and weapons charges.
From BBC
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.