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 magisterial
2. another name for justice of the peace
3. the former name for district court judge

Derived Forms

• ˈmagisˌtrateship, noun

Other Words From

• magis·trateship 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

Last Friday, 19 parents and guardians, responsible for 11 children, faced magistrates in Great Yarmouth to explain why their child was persistently absent from school between December 2023 and July this year.

From BBC

Nineteen parents and guardians have appeared before magistrates in Norfolk charged with the unauthorised absence of their child from school.

From BBC

Authorities said Smith-Griffin was arrested Tuesday in North Carolina and was set to appear before a magistrate judge.

From Los Angeles Times

The magistrates agreed that “given the state of the postal system” they'd give Khan the benefit of the doubt and another trial date would be set.

From BBC

The most serious sanction is prosecution for fare evasion, which can land passengers with a magistrates court appearance and a serious criminal record.

From BBC