Dictionary Home »
Dictionary Definitions » magistrate
magistrate
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.
(noun)A judge that hears traffic ticket cases and fines people is an example of a magistrate.
YourDictionary definition and usage example. Copyright © 2013 by LoveToKnow Corp.
See magistrate in Webster's New World College Dictionary
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: ME < L magistratus < magister, master
Related Forms:
- magistrateship noun
- magistratical adjective
See magistrate in American Heritage Dictionary 4
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:
Origin: Middle English magistrat
Origin: , from Old French
Origin: , from Latin magistrātus
Origin: , from magister, magistr-, master; see meg- in Indo-European roots
.Learn more about magistrate
