cross-examination

noun

cross-ex·​am·​i·​na·​tion ˈkrȯs-ig-ˌza-mə-ˈnā-shən 

: the examination of a witness who has already testified in order to check or discredit the witness's testimony, knowledge, or credibility compare direct examination

cross-examine

ˈkrȯs-ig-ˈza-mən 

verb

cross-examiner

ˈkrȯs-ig-ˈzam-nər 

-ˈza-mə-

noun

Examples of cross-examination in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Upon cross-examination, the defense continued challenging the memory of witnesses against Read by pointing out inconsistencies between testimony given to the grand jury, in the first trial and on the stand at the ongoing trial. —Michael Loria, USA Today, 3 May 2025

Testifying would subject Combs to cross-examination and make his words admissible in more than 60 pending civil cases. —Danielle Bacher, People.com, 2 May 2025

Defense attorney Alan Jackson questions witness Jennifer McCabe during cross-examination in Karen Read's murder trial on April 30, 2025. —Michael Ruiz , Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 1 May 2025

Defense attempts to put McCabe’s memory in doubt Jackson spent the last hours of cross-examination Wednesday trying to put certain aspects of McCabe’s testimony into doubt. —Dakin Andone, CNN Money, 30 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1707, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for cross-examination

• acclimatisation
• acclimatization
• acidification
• actualization
• annualization
• autocorrelation
• autoregulation
• beatification
• beneficiation
• biodegradation
• biotransformation
• bureaucratization

Legal Definition

cross-examination

noun

: the examination of a witness who has already testified in order to check or discredit the witness's testimony, knowledge, or credibility see also confrontation clause compare direct examination, recross-examination, redirect examination

Note: In accordance with Rule 611 of the Federal Rules of Evidence, cross-examination should only refer to matters that were covered during direct examination or that are relevant to the witness's credibility. Anything exceeding these limits is permissible at the court's discretion. Leading questions are also ordinarily allowed on cross-examination under Rule 611.

cross-examine verb

cross-examiner noun