attorney general

noun

plural attorneys general or attorney generals

: the chief law officer of a nation or state who represents the government in litigation and serves as its principal legal adviser

Examples of attorney general in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Weiss was the judge who oversaw a South Florida surrogacy case that last year drew the attention of the state’s attorney general. — Romy Ellenbogen Herald, Miami Herald, 14 Sep. 2026

The lawsuit, joined by Bonta, the attorneys general of 19 other states and the District of Columbia, and the governor of Pennsylvania, was filed in federal court in New York. — Kevin Rector, Los Angeles Times, 14 Sep. 2026

That includes a key Democratic ask to allow state attorneys general to enforce ethics requirements on federal officials. — Garrett Downs, CNBC, 14 Sep. 2026

For Democrats, an enforcement mechanism involving state attorneys general had been a red line. — ABC News, 14 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1585, in the meaning defined above

Video

Is It 'Attorney Generals' Or 'Attorneys General'?

'Poets laureate'? 'Court-martials'? The curious history of postpositive adjectives in English.

Kids Definition

attorney general

noun

plural attorneys general or attorney generals

: the chief law officer of a nation or state who represents the government in legal matters

Legal Definition

attorney general

noun

plural attorneys general or attorney generals

: the chief law officer of a nation or state who represents the government in litigation and serves as its principal legal advisor