magistrate
Americannoun
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a civil officer charged with the administration of the law.
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a minor judicial officer, as a justice of the peace or the judge of a police court, having jurisdiction to try minor criminal cases and to conduct preliminary examinations of persons charged with serious crimes.
noun
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a public officer concerned with the administration of law
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another name for justice of the peace
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the former name for district court judge
Other Word Forms
- magistrateship noun
Etymology
Origin of magistrate
1350–1400; Middle English magistrat < Latin magistrātus magistracy, magistrate, equivalent to magist ( e ) r master + -ātus -ate 3
Explanation
A magistrate is a person who lays down the law — a judge or other civil authority who conducts a court. Minor offenses are often brought before a magistrate. Magistrate goes back to the Latin magistratus, meaning "administrator." Lawmakers and judges might have a role in making and changing laws; magistrates focus on carrying out the laws on a case-by-case basis. A magistrate doesn't usually make final rulings on murders or high-level cases. He or she might hear cases about things like property damage or traffic violations.
Vocabulary lists containing magistrate
"The Crucible" -- Vocabulary from all 4 Acts
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Occupations
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"The Crucible" -- Vocabulary from Act 2
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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.
Bonta questioned whether Bianco had concealed information from the magistrate judge who approved the warrants, including details from the registrar’s analysis of the citizen group’s allegations.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 23, 2026
The magistrate denied them bail, according to their lawyer.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 22, 2026
A local magistrate ordered that the bodies be handed over to the Iranian embassy in Colombo for repatriation to the next of kin.
From Barron's • Mar. 13, 2026
The judgement on Wednesday said it agreed with the magistrate that proceedings had "been instituted when the first written charge was issued on 21 May".
From BBC • Mar. 11, 2026
"Painter Chen," the magistrate said, "I commend you on your work on my son’s project. The paintings in the Long Walkway are beautiful to behold."
From "When the Sea Turned to Silver" by Grace Lin
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.
