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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

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

From Salon • Apr. 26, 2026

One of them, Steven Vandervelden, served as a local prosecutor during Pirro’s days as a district attorney and has also worked as a dance photographer.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 12, 2026

The Texas bar subsequently disciplined Gocha Allen Ramirez, the Starr County district attorney, and Gonzalez filed a civil-rights suit against him and other officials involved in her arrest.

From Slate • Apr. 6, 2026

The five Georgia teens whose teacher died during a fatal practical joke will not be prosecuted in the educator's death, the district attorney has said.

From BBC • Mar. 13, 2026

The US district attorney made the opening statement for the prosecution.

From "Votes for Women!" by Winifred Conkling

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.