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

• judge
• court

Examples of magistrate in a Sentence

chose to take their case before the local magistrate

Recent Examples on the Web

Holmes, the magistrate judge, wrote in a ruling on Sunday that federal prosecutors failed to show that Abrego Garcia was a flight risk or a danger to the community. —Travis Loller, Fortune, 26 June 2025

For the first time in history, voters in Mexico will cast their ballots for justices, judges and magistrates in an election set to overhaul the nation’s judiciary. —Alexandra Mendoza, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 May 2025

Related article Trump administration moves to cancel all remaining federal contracts with Harvard Following the government’s new charges, a federal magistrate judge ordered Petrova’s transfer to Massachusetts. —Lauren Mascarenhas, CNN Money, 28 May 2025

The bombs did not distinguish between evil magistrates and political prisoners, or the 18- to 20-year-old conscripts tasked with escorting them. —Siamak Namazi, Time, 25 June 2025

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