magistrate

noun

mag·​is·​trate ˈma-jə-ˌstrāt 

-strət

: an official entrusted with administration of the laws: such as

a

: a principal official exercising governmental powers over a major political unit (such as a nation)

b

: a local official exercising administrative and often judicial functions

c

: a local judiciary official having limited original jurisdiction (see jurisdiction sense 1) especially in criminal cases

magistratical

ˌma-jə-ˈstra-ti-kəl 

adjective

Synonyms of magistrate

• judge
• court

Examples of magistrate in a Sentence

chose to take their case before the local magistrate

Recent Examples on the Web

So the twin arrests were partly a show of force by the federal government and an expression of power, given that a magistrate judge rejected the government’s initial attempt to charge Lemon and several others. —Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 31 Jan. 2026

Last week, Minnesota chief district judge Patrick Schiltz affirmed a decision from a magistrate judge not to press charges against Lemon and four others. —Bethy Squires, Vulture, 31 Jan. 2026

But a federal magistrate judge in Minnesota approved charges against only three people, citing insufficient evidence that Lemon and others had conspired to deprive rights by interfering with someone’s religious freedom in a house of worship. —Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 30 Jan. 2026

In June 2025, a federal magistrate judge recommended her release while the case proceeds, but a federal district judge ordered additional fact-finding. —Aarón Torres, Dallas Morning News, 30 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English magestrat, from Latin magistratus magistracy, magistrate, from magistr-, magister master, political superior — more at master

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing magistrate

• magistrate's court

Rhymes for magistrate

• abdicate
• abrogate
• acetate
• activate
• actuate
• adsorbate
• aggravate
• agitate
• alginate
• alienate
• allocate
• amputate

Kids Definition

magistrate

noun

mag·​is·​trate ˈmaj-ə-ˌstrāt 

-strət

1

: a chief officer of government (as over a nation)

the president is the chief magistrate

2

: a local official with some judicial power

Etymology

Middle English magestrat "magistrate," from Latin magistratus (same meaning), from magister "master, one who holds a higher political office" — related to maestro, master

Legal Definition

magistrate

noun

mag·​is·​trate ˈma-jə-ˌstrāt, -strət 

1

: a civil or judicial official vested with limited judicial powers

a traffic magistrate

2

a

: a municipal, state, or federal judicial officer commonly authorized to issue warrants, hear minor cases, and conduct preliminary or pretrial hearings

called also magistrate judge

b

: an official (as a judge) authorized to perform the role or function of a magistrate

magistrate means an officer having power to issue a warrant for the arrest of a person charged with a public offense

—Arizona Revised Statutes

Etymology

Latin magistratus magistracy, magistrate, from magistr-, magister master, political superior