circuit court

noun

: a court that sits at two or more places within one judicial district

Examples of circuit 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 appeal would be taken up by a Wisconsin circuit court. Maia Pandey, jsonline.com, 29 Jan. 2026 The committee filed a lawsuit this month in Leon County circuit court after the number of valid signatures shown on the Division of Elections website remained at 675,307 for about two months. News Service Of Florida, Sun Sentinel, 26 Jan. 2026 But an Alabama circuit court judge – who is a six-figure donor to a foundation that supports Alabama athletics, as first reported by Front Office Sports – pushed back against the NCAA’s decision, clearing Bediako to play at least until a hearing next week. Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 23 Jan. 2026 The circuit court ruled in Guy's favor. Brooke Greenberg, Arkansas Online, 18 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for circuit court

Word History

First Known Use

1708, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of circuit court was in 1708

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Cite this Entry

“Circuit court.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/circuit%20court. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.

Legal Definition

circuit court

noun
: a court that sits in more than one place in a judicial district: as
a
: a state court usually with original jurisdiction and sometimes with appellate jurisdiction
b
: any of the federal courts of appeals
not used technically

Note: Before 1948, the U.S. Courts of Appeals were known as Circuit Courts of Appeals.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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