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

The state attorney general's office is assisting the Wexford County Prosecutor's office on the case. —Paula Wethington, CBS News, 10 Dec. 2025

Florida’s attorney general has sued a handful of prominent medical organizations for promoting the efficacy of gender-affirming care for youth. —James Factora, Them., 9 Dec. 2025

That may not be applicable to reviews in Europe and by Democratic state attorneys general, the analysts said. —Christopher Palmeri, Fortune, 9 Dec. 2025

In the former state, Democrats also won the races for lieutenant governor and attorney general. —Ross O'Keefe, The Washington Examiner, 8 Dec. 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