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

Every federal circuit court has since developed its own human resources program for workers to resolve disputes. —Carrie Johnson, NPR, 19 June 2026

Herbert is next due in court for a status hearing on July 22, Kane County circuit court records show. —Molly Morrow, Chicago Tribune, 16 June 2026

Thus far, the courts that matter, the federal courts, and the circuit courts, the appellate courts have found that the CFTC has exclusive jurisdiction over this area. —Eleanor Mueller, semafor.com, 12 June 2026

The South Carolina Supreme Court reversed the denial of Murdaugh’s new-trial motion on May 13 and sent the case back to the circuit court. —Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 8 June 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.