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
Synonyms
Examples of magistrate in a Sentence
chose to take their case before the local magistrate
Recent Examples on the Web
He’s expected to plead not guilty when he’s arraigned Monday before a federal magistrate judge, a formality because magistrate judges can’t accept guilty pleas in felony cases in Minnesota.
—
Steve Karnowski, Twin Cities, 3 Jan. 2025
Dali will appear in court before a federal magistrate Tuesday.
—Aaron Katersky, ABC News, 16 Dec. 2024
Both are set to appear Friday before a U.S. magistrate judge in Waco.
—Skye Seipp, Austin American-Statesman, 4 Dec. 2024
Authorities in the Netherlands carried out a simultaneous search of Netflix’s Amsterdam office in the presence of French magistrates and investigators, Politico reported.
—Chris Morris, Fortune Europe, 5 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for magistrate 
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Steve Karnowski, Twin Cities, 3 Jan. 2025
Dali will appear in court before a federal magistrate Tuesday.
—Aaron Katersky, ABC News, 16 Dec. 2024
Both are set to appear Friday before a U.S. magistrate judge in Waco.
—Skye Seipp, Austin American-Statesman, 4 Dec. 2024
Authorities in the Netherlands carried out a simultaneous search of Netflix’s Amsterdam office in the presence of French magistrates and investigators, Politico reported.
—Chris Morris, Fortune Europe, 5 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for magistrate
Dictionary Entries Near magistrate
Cite this Entry
“Magistrate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/magistrate. Accessed 18 Jan. 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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