juvenile court

noun

: a court that has special jurisdiction over delinquent and dependent children usually up to the age of 18

Examples of juvenile court 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.
Today, most 16- and 17-year-olds who commit crimes are generally handled in juvenile court because policymakers recognize that adolescents differ from adults in judgment, impulse control, risk assessment, and susceptibility to peer influence. — Keith Wortz, Hartford Courant, 13 Aug. 2026 If the child driving the vehicle had been older — perhaps a teenager — then authorities could seek to charge that person in juvenile court. — Jakob Rodgers, Mercury News, 11 Aug. 2026 The filing also claims that Shirilla’s case was improperly transferred from juvenile court to adult court, alleging that the subsequent trial and conviction ultimately violated her constitutional rights. — Mekishana Pierre, Entertainment Weekly, 30 July 2026 Prosecutors on July 29 filed a motion to decline jurisdiction in juvenile court. — Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 30 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for juvenile court

Word History

First Known Use

1899, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of juvenile court was in 1899

Rhymes for juvenile court

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Browse Nearby Words

juvenile
juvenile court
juvenile delinquency
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Cite this Entry

“Juvenile court.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/juvenile%20court. Accessed 18 Aug. 2026.

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Legal Definition

juvenile court

noun
: a court that has jurisdiction over juvenile delinquency proceedings or other civil proceedings involving minors or juveniles compare family court

More from Merriam-Webster on juvenile court

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about juvenile court

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