attorney general

noun

plural

attorneys general, attorney generals 

1. the chief law officer of a country or state and head of its legal department. att. gen.

2. Attorney General, the head of the U.S. Department of Justice: a member of the president's cabinet. Atty. Gen.

Attorney General

¹

noun

1. (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

2. (in the US) the chief law officer and legal adviser to the Administration: head of the Department of Justice and member of the cabinet

3. (in Australia and New Zealand) the chief government law officer: a member of Parliament and usually a cabinet minister

attorney general

²

noun

1. a country's chief law officer and senior legal adviser to its government

2. (in the US) the chief law officer and legal adviser of a state government

3. (in some states of the US) a public prosecutor

Word History and Origins

Origin of Attorney General¹

First recorded in 1575–85

Example Sentences

Deputy Assistant Attorney General Drew Ensign said all planes were "on the ground" in the US.

From BBC

The State Attorney General's office later concluded that there was no evidence of a crematorium at the site.

From BBC

The California Attorney General’s Office announced its Torrance investigation in December 2021, the same day a Times investigation first revealed the contents of the text messages and the names of most of the officers involved.

From Los Angeles Times

Acting as a special prosecutor, Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey, a Republican, secured two felony counts of stealing by deceit and two election-law violations.

From Salon

US Attorney General for DC Ms Pirro has said tougher sentences need to go hand in hand with the crackdown on crime.

From BBC