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

Last year, President Claudia Sheinbaum formed an investigative unit to re-examine the case, and the new attorney general, Ernestina Godoy, began a re-analysis. — Harriet Marsden, TheWeek, 17 Aug. 2026

Welker pushed back on that claim, prompting further clarification from the attorney general. — David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 16 Aug. 2026

Around the same time, the Illinois attorney general sued the Morgans over minimum wage violations at Heights Crematory. — Gregory Royal Pratt, Chicago Tribune, 15 Aug. 2026

Stateside, Paramount has agreed to delay closing the deal until as late as June 1, 2027, as a federal antitrust trial is scheduled to begin on March 2, 2027, following a lawsuit filed by 12 state attorneys general. — Addie Morfoot, IndieWire, 14 Aug. 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