attorney general

American  

noun

PLURAL

attorneys general, attorney generals

1. the chief law officer of a country or state and head of its legal department. att. gen.

2. Attorney General, the head of the U.S. Department of Justice: a member of the president's cabinet. Atty. Gen.

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Attorney General ¹ British  

noun

1. (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

2. (in the US) the chief law officer and legal adviser to the Administration: head of the Department of Justice and member of the cabinet

3. (in Australia and New Zealand) the chief government law officer: a member of Parliament and usually a cabinet minister

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attorney general ² British  

noun

1. a country's chief law officer and senior legal adviser to its government

2. (in the US) the chief law officer and legal adviser of a state government

3. (in some states of the US) a public prosecutor

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Etymology

Origin of attorney general

First recorded in 1575–85

Compare meaning

How does attorney-general compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• solicitor general vs. attorney general

Example Sentences

The attorney general can name people to posts temporarily, but that authorization can only last 120 days.

From The Wall Street Journal

The Swiss attorney general’s office said it charged an unnamed female compliance officer in relation to $7.9 million in payments that she allowed to enter the bank.

From The Wall Street Journal

Signatories to that statement included ex-justice secretary Robert Buckland, former attorney general Dominic Grieve, and Lady Cherie Blair, a human rights lawyer and wife of former prime minister Sir Tony Blair.

From BBC

Meanwhile, in Virginia, several old text messages swallowed attorney general nominee Jay Jones in a cumulus of controversy.

From Los Angeles Times

A Colombian army general and an intelligence chief were suspended on Thursday following allegations they leaked sensitive information to a guerrilla leader, the attorney general's office told AFP.

From Barron's