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

This critical legislation establishes penalties for tampering, harassment, or retaliation against general magistrates, child support hearing officers, and others. —Chris Rumbold, The Orlando Sentinel, 7 Aug. 2025

The two other Florida nominees whom senators briefly questioned last month— as if all their confirmations were assured — are Kyle Dudek, a U.S. magistrate, and Anne-Leigh Gaylord Moe, a judge of Florida’s Second District Court of Appeal. —Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 22 July 2025

Hunsicker, 48, surrendered herself to authorities on Friday morning and was due to appear before a U.S. magistrate judge later in the day. —Evan Clark, Footwear News, 18 July 2025

Frank O’Brien was the police magistrate until the first actual police chief, John Cleveland, was named in 1920. —Janice Neumann, Chicago Tribune, 9 July 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