- 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.
A magistrate considering a case.
magistrate definition by Webster's New World
noun
- 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: Middle English ; from Classical Latin magistratus ; from magister, master
Related Forms:
- magistrateship noun
- magistratical adjective
magistrate definition by American Heritage Dictionary
noun
A civil officer with power to administer and enforce law, as:
a. A local member of the judiciary having limited jurisdiction, especially in criminal cases.
b. A minor official, such as a justice of the peace, having administrative and limited judicial authority.
Origin: Middle English magistrat, from Old French, from Latin magistrātus, from magister, magistr-, master; see meg- in Indo-European roots.
magistrate - Legal Definition
n
A judicial officer of
limited jurisdiction or responsibility; colloquially used as a synonym for
judge.
