Synonyms of magistrate

magistrate

noun

ˈma-jə-ˌstrāt 

as in judge

a public official having authority to decide questions of law

chose to take their case before the local magistrate

Synonyms & Similar Words

• judge
• court
• jurist
• bench
• justice
• adjudicator
• auditor
• circuit judge
• chief justice
• beak
• squire
• justice of the peace
• master
• jurisconsult
• jurisprudent

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of magistrate

Reporter covering religion, spirituality and meaning-making A 79-year-old Colorado pastor who lost 35 pounds and the strength to walk after being placed in immigration detention 13 months ago has been released by order of a federal magistrate judge. — Washington Post, 22 Oct. 2026

That testimony later was criticized by a federal magistrate judge, who accused the FBI of numerous missteps, including a failure to filter out potentially privileged materials. — Sarah N. Lynch, CBS News, 15 Oct. 2026

Children’s received a subpoena last year for the records of minor patients who received gender-affirming care, but a federal magistrate judge recommended dismissing it. — Katie Langford, Denver Post, 23 Sep. 2026

Before fatally stabbing Zarutska, according to court records, Brown had been on a pretrial release over a misdemeanor offense that was ordered by a magistrate after Cooper left office. — Corey Williams, Chicago Tribune, 18 Sep. 2026