attorney general


noun, plural attorneys general, attorney generals.

the chief law officer of a country or state and head of its legal department.
(initial capital letters) the head of the U.S. Department of Justice: a member of the president's cabinet.

Origin of attorney general

First recorded in 1575–85

Example sentences from the Web for attorney general

British Dictionary definitions for attorney general (1 of 2)

attorney general

noun plural attorneys general or attorney generals

a country's chief law officer and senior legal adviser to its government
(in the US) the chief law officer and legal adviser of a state government
(in some states of the US) a public prosecutor

British Dictionary definitions for attorney general (2 of 2)

Attorney General

noun

(in the United Kingdom except Scotland) the senior law officer and chief legal counsel of the Crown: a member of the government and of the House of Commons
(in the US) the chief law officer and legal adviser to the Administration: head of the Department of Justice and member of the cabinet
(in Australia and New Zealand) the chief government law officer: a member of Parliament and usually a cabinet minister