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

That followed a temporary restraining order secured four days earlier by twelve state attorneys general. — Maureen Kerr, Forbes.com, 26 July 2026

The governor has appointed my former attorney general, very independent, Jeff Chiesa, to do a bipartisan investigation. — ABC News, 26 July 2026

Numerous Republican attorneys general have fought the city in court on a host of issues ranging from guns and public records to funding of the city’s police force. — Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 24 July 2026

In the multi-state suit, Bonta is joined by the attorneys general of Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon and Washington. — Daniel Arkin, NBC news, 24 July 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