state's attorney: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Legal, formal, official, journalistic
Quick answer
What does “state's attorney” mean?
A public official appointed to represent the state government in criminal prosecutions within a specific jurisdiction.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A public official appointed to represent the state government in criminal prosecutions within a specific jurisdiction.
A lawyer employed by a state government to prosecute criminal cases on behalf of the government and the public, typically operating at the county or district level.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
This term is almost exclusively American. In the UK, the equivalent prosecutorial roles are 'Crown Prosecutor' (in England and Wales) or 'Procurator Fiscal' (in Scotland). 'State's Attorney' is not used in British English.
Connotations
In American English, it connotes an elected or appointed local/state government legal officer with significant discretionary power in prosecution. In British English, the term is recognized but understood as a foreign legal concept.
Frequency
High frequency in American legal and news contexts. Very low to zero frequency in British English outside of discussions of U.S. law.
Grammar
How to Use “state's attorney” in a Sentence
The state's attorney + [verb: prosecuted, charged, announced, decided, filed]under + [Possessive] state's attorney[Person/Title] + , the state's attorney for [Place] + ,Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “state's attorney” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- N/A - The term is not used as a verb in British English.
American English
- N/A - 'State's attorney' is not used as a verb in American English.
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- N/A - The term is not used adjectivally in British English.
American English
- The state's attorney race was highly contentious.
- She reviewed the state's attorney case files.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in context of white-collar crime cases (e.g., 'The business was investigated by the state's attorney.')
Academic
Used in law, political science, and criminal justice studies discussing U.S. legal systems.
Everyday
Used primarily in news reports about crime and local politics (e.g., 'The state's attorney held a press conference.').
Technical
Central term in U.S. criminal procedure law, specifying the initiating authority for prosecutions.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “state's attorney”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “state's attorney”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “state's attorney”
- Misspelling as 'states attorney' (omitting the apostrophe).
- Confusing it with 'Attorney General' (a separate, higher, statewide office).
- Using it in non-U.S. contexts where it doesn't apply.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
They are very similar roles, but the title differs by state. Some states use 'District Attorney' (DA), others use 'State's Attorney'. Both are chief prosecutors for a local jurisdiction.
No. A state's attorney's sole duty is to prosecute crimes on behalf of the state government. For defense, one would hire a private defense attorney or be assigned a public defender.
Typically, one must be a licensed attorney, then either be appointed or, more commonly, elected by voters in the specific county or judicial district.
A state's attorney usually handles prosecutions at the county or local district level. The state Attorney General is the top legal officer for the entire state, advising state government and often handling appeals or statewide litigation.
A public official appointed to represent the state government in criminal prosecutions within a specific jurisdiction.
State's attorney is usually legal, formal, official, journalistic in register.
State's attorney: in British English it is pronounced /ˈsteɪts əˈtɜːni/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈsteɪts əˈtɝːni/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “To have the state's attorney on one's back (informal, meaning: to be under serious legal scrutiny/prosecution)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: The STATE hires this ATTORNEY to argue its case in court. It's the state's lawyer for putting people on trial.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE STATE IS A PERSON (who can be represented by an attorney in a legal dispute with a citizen).
Practice
Quiz
In which country is the term 'state's attorney' primarily used?