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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
That post appears at the top of the agencies’ letter to state attorneys general. — Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 3 July 2026 Every once in a while, some state attorney general or Justice Department official takes a run at this company and tries to force a divestiture or wrangle or a settlement check. — Josh Brown,sean Russo, CNBC, 2 July 2026 The commission also ruled the same to be true for Republican Michael Walsh, a candidate for attorney general, and he too was disqualified from the ballot. — Peter Lucas, Boston Herald, 2 July 2026 The 16-count indictment handed up Thursday by a New Orleans grand jury accused Murrill, the state's first female attorney general, with intimidation and malfeasance. — ABC News, 3 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for attorney general

Word History

First Known Use

1585, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of attorney general was in 1585

Browse Nearby Words

attorney-at-law
attorney general
attornment
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Attorney general.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/attorney%20general. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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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

More from Merriam-Webster on attorney general

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about attorney general

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