attorney general

noun

plural attorneys general or attorney generals

: the chief law officer of a nation or state who represents the government in litigation and serves as its principal legal adviser

Examples of attorney general in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Steve Patton, a former Chicago corporation counsel, and John Schmidt, a former United States associate attorney general, are members of the executive board for the Illinois Gun Violence Prevention Political Action Committee (G-PAC). —John Schmidt, Chicago Tribune, 21 Mar. 2025

The Cabinet decision was made against the legal opinion of the attorney general. —Barak Ravid, Axios, 21 Mar. 2025

Mac Warner, a deputy assistant attorney general in the agency's civil rights division, said the DOJ wants businesses and the public to understand their rights and obligations. —Ken Alltucker, USA TODAY, 20 Mar. 2025

Fox News' Maria Bartiromo asked the attorney general. —Katherine Faulders, ABC News, 20 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1585, in the meaning defined above

Video

Is It 'Attorney Generals' Or 'Attorneys General'?

'Poets laureate'? 'Court-martials'? The curious history of postpositive adjectives in English.

Kids Definition

attorney general

noun

plural attorneys general or attorney generals

: the chief law officer of a nation or state who represents the government in legal matters

Legal Definition

attorney general

noun

plural attorneys general or attorney generals

: the chief law officer of a nation or state who represents the government in litigation and serves as its principal legal advisor