magistrate
UK: /ˈmadʒɪstreɪt/ | US: /ˈmædʒɪstreɪt/
n. a civil officer or judge who administers the law, especially one who conducts a court dealing with minor offenses
n. (historical) a local official with limited judicial authority
The word "magistrate" traces back to Latin magistratus, derived from magister (meaning "master" or "leader"). The suffix -atus denoted an office or position of authority. In ancient Rome, a magistratus was a public official with judicial or executive powers. Over time, the term evolved in English to refer to a judicial officer, retaining its core association with authority and governance. The morpheme magistr- preserves the original Latin root, while -ate marks its functional role.
The magistrate dismissed the case due to lack of evidence.
In some countries, magistrates handle minor legal disputes.
He served as a local magistrate for over a decade.
The accused will appear before the magistrate tomorrow.
Historically, magistrates were appointed by the king.