Meaning & Definition of word "Magistrate"
Magistrate
/ˈmædʒ.ɪ.streɪt/
noun:
- 1. A civil officer or lay magistrate who administers the law, typically in a specific area or jurisdiction.
- Example: The magistrate presided over the case with a keen sense of justice.
- 2. An official who has the power to decide on minor law cases or disputes.
- Example: The magistrate ruled in favor of the plaintiff in the small claims court.
- 3. A person exercising authority or functions similar to those of a magistrate.
- Example: The local magistrate organized a community meeting to discuss public safety.
- 4. Historically, a title for officials who had varying levels of authority, often related to governance.
- Example: In the medieval town, the magistrate had significant power over local affairs.
Etymology
●Middle English, from Latin 'magistratus', meaning 'office, authority'.
Common Phrases and Expressions
magistrate's court:
A court in which a magistrate presides over minor criminal cases.
lay magistrate:
A magistrate who is not a qualified lawyer, but serves in a voluntary capacity.
Related Words
jurisdiction:
The official power to make legal decisions and judgments.
tort:
A wrongful act or an infringement of a right leading to civil legal liability.
prosecutor:
A legal representative who brings charges against a defendant in a court of law.
Slang Meanings of magistrate
Meaning: The big boss in a courtroom.
● Example Sentence: The magistrate really laid down the law today.
Meaning: A law enforcer on the ground.
● Example Sentence: Don't mess with the magistrate; he knows the rules inside and out.