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
Decision on his brother delayed Another Miami magistrate judge, Lisette Reid, denied a $115 million bond request in December by the third brother, Tal.
—
Jay Weaver, Miami Herald, 14 Jan. 2025
Bond concerns in Mecklenburg courts This isn’t the first time local police have called attention to low bonds set by Mecklenburg County magistrates.
—Julia Coin, Charlotte Observer, 14 Jan. 2025
The teenagers, unnamed by the police department, will now attend a hearing where a clerk magistrate will determine whether there is probable cause for the charges, the release says.
—Zoe Sottile, CNN, 2 Dec. 2024
After several months of further litigation, Vice Chancellor J. Travis Laster ruled in favor of Rhode Island last week, rejecting the magistrate’s recommendation.
—Gene Maddaus, Variety, 8 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for magistrate
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Jay Weaver, Miami Herald, 14 Jan. 2025
Bond concerns in Mecklenburg courts This isn’t the first time local police have called attention to low bonds set by Mecklenburg County magistrates.
—Julia Coin, Charlotte Observer, 14 Jan. 2025
The teenagers, unnamed by the police department, will now attend a hearing where a clerk magistrate will determine whether there is probable cause for the charges, the release says.
—Zoe Sottile, CNN, 2 Dec. 2024
After several months of further litigation, Vice Chancellor J. Travis Laster ruled in favor of Rhode Island last week, rejecting the magistrate’s recommendation.
—Gene Maddaus, Variety, 8 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for magistrate
Cite this Entry
“Magistrate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/magistrate. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.
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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