magistrate

[maj-uh-streyt, -strit]

noun

1. a civil officer charged with the administration of the law.

2. 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.

magistrate

/ ˈmædʒɪˌstreɪt, -strɪt /

noun

1. a public officer concerned with the administration of law

2. another name for justice of the peace

3. the former name for district court judge

Other Word Forms

• magistrateship noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of magistrate¹

1350–1400; Middle English magistrat < Latin magistrātus magistracy, magistrate, equivalent to magist ( e ) r master + -ātus -ate ³

Word History and Origins

Origin of magistrate¹

C17: from Latin magistrātus, from magister master

Example Sentences

It sets up a special prosecutor's office dedicated to organised crime - similar to the office that tackles terrorism - which will eventually have 30 specialised magistrates.

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Scipio was elected aedile, one of four magistrates responsible for Rome’s public buildings and religious games, at 22.

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He was told he was not going to be asked to enter any pleas because the offences are too serious to be dealt with by the magistrates' court.

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West Midlands Police said Mr Rafael, who they described as a black British national, had been remanded to appear before magistrates in Birmingham on Monday.

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An investigating magistrate is investigating the sale of submarines to Malaysia in 2002 and could order a trial against parties including the firm.

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