magistrate

American  

[maj-uh-streyt, -strit] / ˈmædʒ əˌstreɪt, -strɪt /

noun

magistrates plural

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.

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magistrate British  

/ 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

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• magistrateship
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• magistrates
  plural

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.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

magistrate magistrates

The brothers, who are being held in federal detention, appeared before a magistrate in Miami on Monday, where a lawyer representing them said they would fight their extradition to the U.K.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 20, 2026

The lawsuit delayed the roundup, also known as a gather, but in February a U.S. magistrate judge ruled in favor of the government, paving the way for it to move forward.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 30, 2026

Because an “individual has a legitimate expectation of privacy in his cellphone location data,” she said police investigators need a valid search warrant from a magistrate.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 29, 2026

Being placed under investigation means that an examining magistrate will now look more deeply into the charges against Bruel, whose lawyers will have access to the prosecution file.

From BBC ● Jun. 10, 2026

Prompted by the constable’s elbow, Kit got to her feet and moved haltingly across the room to stand facing the magistrate across the table.

From "The Witch of Blackbird Pond" by Elizabeth George Speare

In November 2024, a judge sitting with two magistrates allowed the singer's appeal against a conviction for threatening a member of aircraft crew, but rejected his appeal against the assault conviction.

From BBC ● Jul. 14, 2026

Freymond, who had been accused by a number of former clients of siphoning away their assets, was questioned by French investigating magistrates in July 2025.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 25, 2026

Beccuau has assigned five investigating magistrates to comb through the documents released by the Justice Department and gather testimony from potential victims.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 17, 2026

On 23 April 2025 he was sentenced by Milton Keynes magistrates to a youth rehabilitation order with intensive supervision and surveillance, ending on 22 October 2025.

From BBC ● May 8, 2026

One did not defy magistrates in those days.

From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela