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
Examples of magistrate in a Sentence
chose to take their case before the local magistrate
Recent Examples on the Web
The department also noted that a federal magistrate judge reviewed the FBI affidavit and signed off on the search warrant.
—
ABC News, 27 Mar. 2026
The Justice Department also noted that a federal magistrate judge reviewed the FBI affidavit and signed off on the search warrant.
—Kate Brumback, Los Angeles Times, 27 Mar. 2026
Petro did not participate in the attack, which left several guerrillas and around half the high court's magistrates dead.
—Arkansas Online, 21 Mar. 2026
The deputy chief magistrate, Tan Ikram, ordered that Partey is not to contact directly or indirectly this new complainant, in line with the bail conditions he was served previously.
—James McNicholas, New York Times, 13 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for magistrate
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ABC News, 27 Mar. 2026
The Justice Department also noted that a federal magistrate judge reviewed the FBI affidavit and signed off on the search warrant.
—Kate Brumback, Los Angeles Times, 27 Mar. 2026
Petro did not participate in the attack, which left several guerrillas and around half the high court's magistrates dead.
—Arkansas Online, 21 Mar. 2026
The deputy chief magistrate, Tan Ikram, ordered that Partey is not to contact directly or indirectly this new complainant, in line with the bail conditions he was served previously.
—James McNicholas, New York Times, 13 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for magistrate
Cite this Entry
“Magistrate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/magistrate. Accessed 29 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationKids 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
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
Arizona Revised StatutesEtymology
Latin magistratus magistracy, magistrate, from magistr-, magister master, political superior
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