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Synonyms

district attorney

American  

noun

  1. an officer who acts as attorney for the people or government within a specified district.


district attorney British  

noun

  1. (in the US) the state prosecuting officer in a specified judicial district

"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

district attorney Cultural  
  1. An official responsible for representing the government in court cases and for prosecuting criminals.


Etymology

Origin of district attorney

An Americanism dating back to 1780–90

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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.

Clark, who was picking up food at the Mall at Bay Plaza when the teen takeover occurred, serves as the district attorney for the Bronx.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 13, 2026

She passed the bar in 2002 and became a deputy district attorney two years later.

From Los Angeles Times • May 1, 2026

The district attorney later determined that the books weren’t actually obscene.

From Salon • Apr. 26, 2026

An indictment has not been handed down as part of those investigations and the singer was instead charged by the district attorney through a criminal complaint.

From BBC • Apr. 23, 2026

Citing the severity of the crime, the district attorney will charge him as an adult, stripping him of the protections normally given to juveniles.

From "The 57 Bus" by Dashka Slater

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