# magistrate

/ˈmædʒəˌstɹeɪt/ (US) · /mˈædʒɪstɹˌeɪt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/magistrate
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. legal official

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

a judge who deals with smaller crimes or decides if a bigger case should go to a higher court.

For teachers: a judicial officer with limited authority to administer and enforce the law, typically presiding over a court for minor criminal or civil matters.

- The magistrate decided that the driver had to pay a fine for speeding.
- The defendant appeared before the magistrate to face charges of petty theft and disturbing the peace.

Usage: In many legal systems, this is a countable noun and often refers to a layperson rather than a professional lawyer.

Teaching tip: In the UK, magistrates are often volunteers from the community, whereas in other systems they may be professional civil servants.

### 2. historical official

noun · CEFR C2 · Archaic

a high-ranking government official in ancient times, like in Rome or Greece.

For teachers: a high-ranking civil officer of the state or a municipality in ancient Greece or Rome.

- In ancient Rome, a magistrate held great power over the city's laws.
- The historian examined how the role of the chief magistrate evolved during the transition from the Roman Republic to the Empire.

Teaching tip: This sense is primarily encountered in historical texts or classical literature.

## Examples

- The magistrate ordered the defendant to pay a small fine.
- After hearing the evidence, the magistrate decided there was enough proof to send the case to a jury trial.
- While professional judges handle complex litigation, the local magistrate often deals with the immediate legal realities of the community, from traffic violations to minor public order offences.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.