as in judges
a public official having authority to decide questions of law
chose to take their case before the local magistrate
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Recent Examples of magistrates
Judges and magistrates are required to follow the law and constitutional standards in every case and cannot make decisions based on ideology or public pressure.
—
Charlotte Observer, 13 Feb. 2026
The district judge declined her jurisdictional prerogatives, saying that the case was too serious to be settled in a magistrates’ court and must be heard by a Crown Court, which deals with the most severe criminal offenses.
—Rosa Lyster, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025
Investigating magistrates have filed preliminary charges against three men and one woman who were arrested last month.
—CBS News, 25 Nov. 2025
The situation, the magistrates conceded, was tricky.
—Gideon Lewis-Kraus, New Yorker, 24 Nov. 2025
Johnston’s proposal originally abolished the city’s parking magistrates, eliminating any non-court options for residents who want to appeal their ticket.
—Elliott Wenzler, Denver Post, 21 Oct. 2025
On June 1, commemorating one year since his unconstitutional reelection, Bukele appeared on national television from the National Theater, surrounded by his deputies, his loyal magistrates and prosecutor, and many soldiers.
—Óscar Martínez & Carlos Martínez, The Dial, 16 Sep. 2025
Then her latest statement took a different tack and blamed courts and magistrates for allowing repeat offenders to remain on the streets.
—Wesley Bruer, CNN Money, 10 Sep. 2025
Charlotte Observer, 13 Feb. 2026
The district judge declined her jurisdictional prerogatives, saying that the case was too serious to be settled in a magistrates’ court and must be heard by a Crown Court, which deals with the most severe criminal offenses.
—Rosa Lyster, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025
Investigating magistrates have filed preliminary charges against three men and one woman who were arrested last month.
—CBS News, 25 Nov. 2025
The situation, the magistrates conceded, was tricky.
—Gideon Lewis-Kraus, New Yorker, 24 Nov. 2025
Johnston’s proposal originally abolished the city’s parking magistrates, eliminating any non-court options for residents who want to appeal their ticket.
—Elliott Wenzler, Denver Post, 21 Oct. 2025
On June 1, commemorating one year since his unconstitutional reelection, Bukele appeared on national television from the National Theater, surrounded by his deputies, his loyal magistrates and prosecutor, and many soldiers.
—Óscar Martínez & Carlos Martínez, The Dial, 16 Sep. 2025
Then her latest statement took a different tack and blamed courts and magistrates for allowing repeat offenders to remain on the streets.
—Wesley Bruer, CNN Money, 10 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for magistrates
Noun
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Judicial warrants are issued by judges when they are presented with probable cause and allow law enforcement officers to enter and search a person's residence.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
16 Feb. 2026
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This decision has led city councils to adopt new ordinances, judges to adjust their advisements for defendants and prosecutors and defense attorneys to negotiate plea deals under new guidelines.—
Sam Tabachnik,
Denver Post,
15 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Those federal statutes are enforceable through the Administrative Procedure Act (APA), which directs courts to set aside agency actions when they are taken without observance of procedural requirements and in abuse of agency discretion.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
18 Feb. 2026
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Brendan Reilly highlighted their differing approaches in the Tuesday night debate to the office that oversees the 17-member County Board, forest preserves, and budgets for the county’s massive health system, courts and jail.—
A.D. Quig,
Chicago Tribune,
18 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Magistrates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/magistrates. Accessed 19 Feb. 2026.
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