magistrate

noun

mag·​is·​trate ˈma-jə-ˌstrāt How to pronounce magistrate (audio)
-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 adjective

Examples of magistrate in a Sentence

chose to take their case before the local magistrate
Recent Examples on the Web But in 2011, a federal magistrate judge read the petition Coleman had written on a typewriter in his cell and granted him an evidentiary hearing. Harriet Ryan, Los Angeles Times, 28 Feb. 2024 Becerra and Damian currently sit as U.S. magistrate judges in South Florida, a venue known for handling prominent cases, including Bush v. Gore, the Elián González saga and the ongoing prosecution of Donald Trump over his handling of classified documents. Jay Weaver, Miami Herald, 27 Feb. 2024 Jesus of Nazareth died from crucifixion under the orders of Roman magistrate Pontius Pilate on Good Friday. Marina Johnson, The Courier-Journal, 21 Feb. 2024 At a hearing Friday, a D.C. Superior Court magistrate judge ordered McCoy detained and set a court date for March 8. Peter Hermann, Washington Post, 18 Feb. 2024 Collins' initial court appearance was scheduled for Thursday morning before a U.S. magistrate judge at the Orrin G. Hatch United States District Courthouse in downtown Salt Lake City. Jose R. Gonzalez, The Arizona Republic, 1 Feb. 2024 She was recently appointed as a U.S. magistrate judge for the Northern District Federal Court in San Francisco. Tammy Murga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Jan. 2024 Investigative Judge Walther Wesser Voltaire, the fifth magistrate and the one to spend the most time on the inquiry, has sent his 122-page order to a prosecutor who will now notify the individuals about the indictment. Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 19 Feb. 2024 Charles Michael Calvert, 60, was arrested on a charge of murder in connection with the death of his girlfriend, former magistrate Marcia Linksy, inside a Grabill home Saturday, police say, 21Alive reported. Christine Pelisek, Peoplemag, 6 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'magistrate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of magistrate was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near magistrate

Cite this Entry

“Magistrate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/magistrate. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

magistrate

noun
mag·​is·​trate ˈmaj-ə-ˌstrāt How to pronounce magistrate (audio)
-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 How to pronounce magistrate (audio)
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 offenseArizona Revised Statutes
Etymology

Latin magistratus magistracy, magistrate, from magistr- magister master, political superior

More from Merriam-Webster on magistrate

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