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

Emmitt Monslow, a franchisee who runs both Kansas City-area Sacred Leaf locations, told The Star on Tuesday that his company will comply with all requests from the attorney general’s office. —David Hudnall, Kansas City Star, 26 Nov. 2025

What Happens Next Before heading to voters on the November 2026 ballot, the proposal must pass through the state attorney general’s office and gather 92,260 signatures within 90 days. —Giulia Carbonaro, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Nov. 2025

Her husband had an alibi and no evidence tied him to the crime scene, according to the attorney general's report. —Kerry Breen, CBS News, 25 Nov. 2025

James, the New York attorney general who investigated the president between his two terms, was charged with mortgage fraud. —Chris Megerian, Fortune, 25 Nov. 2025

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