pretrial

adjective

pre·​tri·​al ˌprē-ˈtrī(-ə)l How to pronounce pretrial (audio)
variants or pre-trial
: occurring or existing before a trial
a pretrial hearing

Examples of pretrial 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 charges were sent toward trial after a preliminary examination in 2022, and the case remains in pretrial proceedings, court records show. Robert Salonga, The Mercury News, 6 Feb. 2025 At the Monday, Feb. 3 pretrial conference at United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, Judge Lewis Liman addressed the issue. Elizabeth Rosner, People.com, 3 Feb. 2025 The demand to Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Curtis Farber, virtually unheard of from a criminal defendant, came at a pretrial hearing in Weinstein’s case after the judge scheduled trial for April 15. Molly Crane-Newman, New York Daily News, 29 Jan. 2025 The Justice Department is asking the D.C. Circuit to find that Austin validly withdrew from the pretrial agreements and bar the military commission from conducting plea hearings, during which the defendants would enter guilty pleas. Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 28 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for pretrial 

Word History

First Known Use

1894, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of pretrial was in 1894

Dictionary Entries Near pretrial

Cite this Entry

“Pretrial.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pretrial. Accessed 17 Feb. 2025.

Legal Definition

pretrial

adjective
pre·​tri·​al
ˌprē-ˈtrī-əl
: existing or occurring before trial
a pretrial motion
a pretrial detainee
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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