Meaning & use
magistrate
Last updated
a civil officer who administers the law, especially one who judges minor cases in a local court.
See it in a sentence
The magistrate fined the driver for repeated parking violations.
Minor offenses are usually handled by a magistrate rather than a higher court.
A note on using this word
In many legal systems, magistrates handle less serious cases than judges in higher courts.
Words with a similar meaning
judgejustice of the peace
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