Phrase guide

magistrates' court

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

noun

Meaning 1

In England and Wales, a lower court of law that deals with less serious offences, as well as initial hearings for serious offences prior to referring these to the Crown Court. Cases are heard by two or three magistrates, or sometimes a district judge, without a jury.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

A similar court of law in various other countries and jurisdictions.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

7 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Cantonese: 裁判法院 — lower court of law
  • Chinese Cantonese: 裁判司署 (coi4 pun3 si1 cyu5) — lower court of law
  • Chinese Mandarin: 治安法院 (zhì'ān fǎyuàn) — lower court of law
  • Chinese Mandarin: 裁判法院 (cáipàn fǎyuàn) — lower court of law
  • Chinese Mandarin: 推事法庭 (tuīshì fǎtíng) — lower court of law
  • Chinese Mandarin: 推事庭 (tuīshì tíng) — lower court of law
  • Finnish: maistraatinoikeus — lower court of law