Magistrate
/ˈmædʒɪstreɪt/
Definitions
A civil officer or lay judge who administers the law, especially one who conducts a court that deals with minor offenses and preliminary hearings.
/ˈmædʒɪstreɪt/
A civil officer charged with the administration of the law.
The magistrate heard evidence from both sides of the dispute.
💡 Simply: Think of a magistrate as a judge for small stuff. They're like the referee for traffic tickets or small disagreements, making sure everyone plays fair in those little legal games. For example, if someone speeds, they would go before a magistrate to handle it.
👶 For kids: A magistrate is like a grown-up helper in court. They make sure everyone follows the rules and helps decide what happens when people do something wrong.
More Examples
A magistrate can issue warrants for arrests.
The defendant appeared before the magistrate to plead guilty.
How It's Used
"The magistrate presided over the court proceedings."
"The town's magistrate was responsible for local ordinances."
From Latin *magistratus* ('magistrate, civil officer'), derived from *magister* ('master, chief'). It entered English in the 14th century.
Historically, magistrates often held broad powers and responsibilities, including administrative and judicial functions. Their role has evolved with the development of modern legal systems.
Memory tip
Imagine a MASTER in a STATE of LEGAL control; MAGISTRATE.
Word Origin
"master, chief, civil officer"