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

The lawsuit, filed in June in a Tallahassee circuit court, claims the detention center was built without an environmental impact statement, public input or permits required by the National Environmental Policy Act. —Jeffrey Schweers, The Orlando Sentinel, 4 Mar. 2026

On the first go-around, both the district and circuit courts sided with the school, finding that Kluge's refusal to honor the policy and use students' first names caused harm. —Cate Charron, IndyStar, 3 Mar. 2026

In Kentucky circuit courts, at least nine of 12 jurors must agree to reach a verdict in civil cases. —Monroe Trombly, Louisville Courier Journal, 2 Mar. 2026

If approved, the plan would be submitted either to the new community association court program or to the circuit court in the corresponding judicial district. —Michael Toback, Miami Herald, 27 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1708, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for circuit court

• heliport
• nonsupport
• reexport
• teleport
• ultrashort
• abort
• airport
• alport
• athwart
• carport
• comport
• consort

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.