trial court

noun

: 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 trial court held Markel’s claims were barred by the ministerial exception. Dan Eaton, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Jan. 2025 The Supreme Court tied up Smith’s case for months before granting former presidents broad immunity from prosecution and sending the case back to the trial court. Colleen Long, Chicago Tribune, 18 Jan. 2025 And no Georgia court has ever reversed a trial court's order declining to disqualify a prosecutor based solely on an appearance of impropriety. Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 17 Jan. 2025 There are 11 different trial courts and multiple levels of appellate courts. New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 12 Jan. 2025 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

Dictionary Entries Near trial court

Cite this Entry

“Trial court.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/trial%20court. Accessed 31 Jan. 2025.

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

More from Merriam-Webster on trial court

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