A magistrate considering a case.
The definition of a magistrate is a civil or lay judge or other official who is responsible for administering and enforcing the laws, usually by holding hearings on minor offenses.
A judge that hears traffic ticket cases and fines people is an example of a magistrate.
magistrate
- a civil officer empowered to administer the law: the President of the U.S. is sometimes called chief magistrate
- a minor official with limited judicial powers, as a justice of the peace or judge of a police court
Origin of magistrate
Middle English ; from Classical Latin magistratus ; from magister, mastermagistrate
noun
- A judge or justice of a local or inferior court; a justice of the peace.
- A judge in a court having jurisdiction over the trial of misdemeanors and preliminary hearings involving felonies.
- A public official with the chief administrative power in a district or region.
Origin of magistrate
Middle English magistrat, from Old French, from Latin magistratus, from magister, magistr-, master; see meg- in Indo-European roots.magistrate
Noun
(plural magistrates)
Anagrams
- sterigmata
magistrate - Legal Definition
n
A judicial officer of
limited jurisdiction or responsibility; colloquially used as a synonym for
judge.
