magistrate

American  

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

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.

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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

• magistrateship noun

Etymology

Origin of magistrate

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

Example Sentences

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

Every goat in the herd turned to look at the magistrate.

From Anya and the Dragon by Sofiya Pasternack