judge advocate

American  

noun

Military.

judge advocates plural

1. a staff officer designated as legal adviser to a commander and charged with the administration of military justice.

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judge advocate British  

noun

1. an officer who superintends proceedings at a military court martial

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• judge advocates
  plural

Etymology

Origin of judge advocate

First recorded in 1740–50

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

judge advocate

He is also a veteran who served in the Navy as a judge advocate general.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 1, 2026

A month after taking charge, Hegseth fired the military’s top judge advocate generals, known as JAGs, who provide guidance to keep operations in line with U.S. or international law.

From Salon ● Mar. 11, 2026

Navy judge advocate general officer, and Michele Morrow, a former candidate for state superintendent, are also running for the Republican Senate nomination.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 20, 2025

DeSantis served when he was younger as a Navy “JAG,” or judge advocate general, deploying to Iraq.

From Slate ● Dec. 4, 2024

Another slip, and in the same cool, relentless tone the judge advocate read:

From Trumpeter Fred A Story of the Plains by King, Charles