attorney general

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noun, plural attorneys general, attorney generals.

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

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

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Origin of attorney general

First recorded in 1575–85

Words nearby attorney general

attolaser, attophysics, attorn, attorney, attorney-at-law, attorney general, attorney general of the United States, attorney-in-fact, attotesla, attract, attractancy

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use attorney general in a sentence

They noted that police discipline is largely influenced by guidelines published by the state attorney general, which have added police accountability provisions since some contracts were negotiated.
How the Police Bank Millions Through Their Union Contracts|by Andrew Ford, Asbury Park Press, and Agnes Chang, Jeff Kao and Agnel Philip, ProPublica|February 8, 2021|ProPublica
Former Bradford County district attorney Daniel Barrett forwarded the case on to the state attorney general in late 2019 after Salsman’s victory.
A district attorney sexually assaulted abuse victims on his office desk, authorities said. Then he allegedly pressured them to lie about it.|Katie Shepherd|February 5, 2021|Washington Post
The sale of the two Rhode Island hospitals — and thus the entire deal — requires approval from the state’s health department and attorney general, which first must conduct a review process to assure the transaction meets nine statutory criteria.
Rich Investors Stripped Millions From a Hospital Chain and Want to Leave It Behind. A Tiny State Stands in Their Way.|by Peter Elkind|February 4, 2021|ProPublica
Primus said he thought the meeting itself was inappropriate, and got to work on an op-ed for Politico warning that the state attorney general–a Democrat–would have no choice but to investigate.
The Secret History of the Shadow Campaign That Saved the 2020 Election|Molly Ball|February 4, 2021|Time

The main task for Merrick Garland, the nominee for attorney general, will be the restoration of the Department of Justice, after Bill Barr brought the columns down.
The Return of the Regulators|by Jesse Eisinger|February 2, 2021|ProPublica
The Atty. Gen. has been ordered to pay the Guardians legal costs, which the paper said amounted to some £96,000.
Prince Charles's 'Meddling' Lobbying Letters MUST be Released, Appeal Court Rules|Tom Sykes|March 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST

British Dictionary definitions for attorney general (1 of 2)

attorney general

noun plural attorneys general or attorney generals

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

British Dictionary definitions for attorney general (2 of 2)

Attorney General

noun

(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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012