trial court

noun

Synonyms of trial courtnext
: the court before which issues of fact and law are first determined as distinguished from an appellate court

Examples of trial 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.
The district court judge oversees trial courts in Wyandotte County and makes decisions on civil and criminal cases. — Cuyler Dunn, Kansas City Star, 5 Aug. 2026 The charges, including a special circumstance allegation of lying in wait, will be formally addressed before the trial court, and additional pretrial proceedings may be scheduled. — Danielle Bacher, PEOPLE, 30 July 2026 In that case, the appellate court would not be likely to reverse the trial court's determination. — Jay Adkisson, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026 But the panel ruled that Navarro's testimony about that phone call, without further evidence, wasn't enough to overrule the trial court judge, who heard Navarro's testimony directly. — Aysha Bagchi, USA Today, 21 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for trial court

Word History

First Known Use

1889, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of trial court was in 1889

Rhymes for trial court

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Browse Nearby Words

trial color proof
trial court
trial docket
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Cite this Entry

“Trial court.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/trial%20court. Accessed 8 Aug. 2026.

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Legal Definition

trial court

noun
: the court before which issues of fact and law are tried and first determined as distinguished from an appellate court

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