judge advocate

noun

1

: an officer assigned to the judge advocate general's corps or department

2

: a staff officer serving as legal adviser to a military commander

Examples of judge advocate in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Huntley previously served as a judge advocate in the Navy for more than two decades. —Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 1 Dec. 2025

While the president was personally relieving these senior officers, Hegseth was firing the judge advocates general (JAGs) of the army, air force, and navy. —Max Boot, Foreign Affairs, 15 Oct. 2025

All military personnel have access to judge advocates, although more junior service members will typically use JAGs for personal legal matters, rather than limits on authority. —Ellie Cook, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Oct. 2025

Marie’s old boss, Admiral Pasalk (Graeme Somerville), a judge advocate general, will also be on Purmantee III. —Keith Phipps, Vulture, 4 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1644, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Legal Definition

judge advocate

noun

plural judge advocates

1

: an officer serving under the Judge Advocate General

2

: an officer charged with administering military justice (as by acting as legal counsel or conducting an appellate review)