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

• adjudicator
• beak [chiefly British]
• bench
• court
• judge
• jurist
• justice

Examples of magistrate in a Sentence

chose to take their case before the local magistrate

Recent Examples on the Web

Moderator named for Candidates Night Also on Wednesday, Mulcahy said Barbara Greenberg, who serves as a magistrate for Bedford Municipal Court, will be the moderator for the village’s Candidates Night at 7 p.m. Oct. 10 at Village Hall. —Ed Wittenberg, cleveland, 7 Sep. 2023

The court heard that Yuen had made seditious comments on social media about a police officer who died in the line of duty and a magistrate with a heart condition. —Patrick Frater, Variety, 31 Aug. 2023

On Friday, the three men faced a magistrate on charges of unlawful detention in Alexandroupolis. —Niki Kitsantonis, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2023

The amendments also dictate that a district magistrate, the administrative officer in charge in every state, must regulate shutdowns by clearly stating the rationale behind the decision in writing, which is then reviewed by a bureaucratic committee within three days. —Time, 15 Aug. 2023

The lawsuit alleges the affidavit misled the magistrate who signed the warrant into believing the couple pursued Hernandez. —Isabella Volmert, Dallas News, 11 Aug. 2023

Joseph Burke With more than 31 years of trial, courtroom and appellate experience, Burke notes in his campaign material that his resumé also includes five years as a magistrate in the Rocky River court. —Linda Gandee, cleveland, 31 Aug. 2023

Under conditions set by the federal magistrate, Floyd was ordered to surrender his passport and was barred from possessing weapons. —Patrick Marley, Washington Post, 23 Aug. 2023

Ciaran McEvoy, spokesperson for the US attorney’s office, told The Guardian that after an appearance in federal court on Monday, US magistrate Judge Karen L Stevenson ordered that Rivera be detained without bond while the extradition proceedings take place. —Michael Lee Simpson, Peoplemag, 12 July 2023

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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

• magistrate's court

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