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

His sparring partner in cross-examination was Lloyd Whelchel, a 54-year-old former Division I college football player and longtime Tarrant County homicide prosecutor who six weeks ago handled a case in which a jury sent the defendant to death row. —Emerson Clarridge, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 June 2024

And on cross-examination, Mr. Menendez’s lawyer, Adam Fee, stressed that fact. —Benjamin Weiser, New York Times, 31 May 2024

Under scathing cross-examination from defense attorney Todd Blanche, Cohen acknowledged that he's since made a living by loudly criticizing Trump. —Graham Kates, CBS News, 30 May 2024

Westerhout offered conflicting descriptions of Trump's attentiveness and intentionality when signing checks, first telling jurors that Trump examined all documents before signing them, then later testifying on cross-examination that Trump sometimes signed documents without looking them over. —Peter Charalambous, ABC News, 27 May 2024

Cardoza himself made news during the trial when defense lawyers asked him to perform a secret, mock cross-examination of Peterson in jail to help determine whether Peterson should take the stand in his own defense. —Julia Prodis Sulek, The Mercury News, 26 May 2024

Defense attorney cross-examination Roseman, Palmiter’s attorney, asked Lampkin about the school documents in the file that were shown to the jury. —Jeff A. Chamer, Charlotte Observer, 25 May 2024

During cross-examination of Abdullah, Assistant City Atty. —Libor Jany, Los Angeles Times, 24 May 2024

Aysha Bagchi: Cohen's testimony wrapped up with another kind of long session of cross-examination by Trump's lawyer Todd Blanche. —Taylor Wilson, USA TODAY, 21 May 2024

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1707, in the meaning defined above

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