extrajudicial

adjective

ex·​tra·​ju·​di·​cial ˌek-strə-jü-ˈdi-shəl 

1

a

: not forming a valid part of regular legal proceedings

an extrajudicial investigation

b

: delivered without legal authority : private sense 2a(1)

the judge's extrajudicial statements

2

: done in contravention of due process of law

an extrajudicial execution

extrajudicially

ˌek-strə-jü-ˈdi-sh(ə-)lē 

adverb

Examples of extrajudicial in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

They are being sued for war crimes, crimes against humanity and attempted extrajudicial killing. — Ryan Lucas, NPR, 30 Mar. 2026

Many of these songs have unfortunately become more relevant today, with the atrocities committed against innocent civilians in conflicts around the world, to the extrajudicial killing of Americans at home. — Christina Hioureas, Rolling Stone, 22 Mar. 2026

At least sixty-six strikes have been conducted on vessels there and in the Caribbean, killing two hundred and fifteen people, in what many international legal scholars describe as an ongoing series of extrajudicial murders. — Will Freeman, New Yorker, 30 June 2026

The West African country of 23 million people has been battered by yearslong violence perpetrated by extremist groups linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State group, as well as government forces often accused of extrajudicial killings. — ABC News, 27 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1630, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for extrajudicial

• semiofficial
• artificial
• beneficial
• cicatricial
• interstitial
• nonjudicial
• nonofficial
• prejudicial
• sacrificial
• superficial
• unofficial
• initial

Legal Definition

extrajudicial

adjective

ex·​tra·​ju·​di·​cial ˌek-strə-ju̇-ˈdi-shəl 

1

: not involving, occurring in, or forming part of a legal proceeding

a creditor's extrajudicial repossession of property

an extrajudicial investigation

especially : out-of-court

an extrajudicial identification

2

: stemming from something outside of a court proceeding

a judge disqualified for bias that is extrajudicial and not derived from the evidence presented

3

: occurring or arising outside of the course of judicial duties

a judge's extrajudicial conduct

extrajudicially adverb