grand jury

noun

: a jury that examines accusations against persons charged with crime and if the evidence warrants makes formal charges (as by indictment)

grand juror noun

Examples of grand jury in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

But Lemon was eventually arrested in late January after a federal grand jury returned an indictment against him and eight others on charges of conspiracy against the rights of religious freedom at a place of worship and interfering with the exercise of the right of religious freedom. —Ryan J. Reilly, NBC news, 27 Feb. 2026

The grand jury report for the other boys was filed Wednesday, records show. —David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 27 Feb. 2026

The nine defendants face charges of conspiring against the rights of religious freedom at a place of worship and injuring, interfering and intimidating with exercising the rights of religious freedom of worship, according to a 14-page grand jury indictment obtained by USA TODAY. —Natalie Neysa Alund, USA Today, 27 Feb. 2026

Police launched an investigation into the allegations, but a grand jury ultimately did not file charges against Mann or the museum. —Uwa Ede-Osifo, Dallas Morning News, 27 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for grand jury

• buri
• fury

Kids Definition

grand jury

noun

: a jury that chiefly examines accusations of crime made against persons and if the evidence warrants makes formal charges on which the accused persons are later tried

Legal Definition

grand jury

noun

: a jury that examines accusations against persons charged with crime and if the evidence warrants makes formal charges on which the accused persons are later tried see also no bill and true bill at bill sense 3b, indictment compare petit jury, special grand jury