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

Rayfield also asked a state circuit court judge to delay the closing of the deal by 60 days so that his office could review the documents. — Terrence O'Brien, The Verge, 11 July 2026

The issue in our judicial branch comes from activist judges in the circuit courts. — David Burck, Sun Sentinel, 10 July 2026

Both pleaded not guilty in Pulaski County District Court, but did not have a formal plea listed in records for the circuit court case. — Grant Lancaster, Arkansas Online, 9 July 2026

Information from the county’s circuit court, including the Office of the Chief Judge and the circuit court clerk, is exempt from the state’s open records laws. — A.d. Quig, Chicago Tribune, 9 July 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.