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 Baltimore circuit court judge denied the mayor's motion to dismiss the case and further ordered the city to fulfill subpoenas that Cumming's office has been requesting. — Renee Anderson, CBS News, 14 Aug. 2026

The case in Broward County circuit court stemming from the shooting remains pending. — Angie Dimichele, Sun Sentinel, 5 Aug. 2026

With the circuit court’s decision, Florida is all-but solidified as one of five states that bar minors from adult performances, along with Arkansas, North Dakota, Texas and Tennessee. — Miami Herald, 5 Aug. 2026

The city filed a lawsuit to fight the arbitrator’s ruling, and a circuit court judge later ruled that officers indeed do have the right to have cases heard by an arbitrator, but those hearings must be publicly accessible. — Sam Charles, Chicago Tribune, 3 Aug. 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.