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

Inflected Forms

noun

• judge advocates
  plural

Etymology

Origin of judge advocate

First recorded in 1740–50

Example Sentences

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

“Is it possible Russia would permit it to be re-registered in Russia without an inspection? It’s possible,” said Eugene Fidell, research scholar at Yale Law School and a former Coast Guard judge advocate general.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 31, 2025

Starting in the early 1900s, Congress enacted predecessors to Section 12406 that used the term in this way; members of the armed forces, including the Army’s judge advocate general, confirmed this interpretation.

From Slate • Oct. 30, 2025

Her fluency also comes in handy when she visits the relatives of her husband, Yado Yukub, a Syrian American who serves as a judge advocate in the Marine Corps.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 30, 2024

It was his duty to swear in the judge advocate, who, in this instance, was a lieutenant.

From The Battleship Boys' First Step Upward or, Winning Their Grades as Petty Officers by Patchin, Frank Gee