court-mar·tial
ˈkȯrt-ˌmär-shəl 
-ˈmär-
plural courts-martial also court-martials
1
: a court consisting of commissioned officers and in some instances enlisted personnel for the trial of members of the armed forces or others within its jurisdiction
2
: a trial by court-martial
court-martialed also court-martialled; court-martialing also court-martialling
ˈkȯrt-ˌmär-sh(ə-)liŋ
-ˈmär-
: to subject to trial by court-martial
Examples of court-martial in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Stephen Sorace,
FOXNews.com,
10 June 2026
Because prosecutors charged him as a civilian defendant rather than through a court-martial, his case falls under the same framework as any federal financial or national security crime.
—
Walter Pavlo,
Forbes.com,
27 Apr. 2026
Assistant Sports Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
15 Apr. 2026
In 2014, the Navy threatened to court-martial one of its nurses at Guantánamo who refused to force-feed prisoners on hunger strike, who were protesting inhumane treatment and indefinite detention.
—
Amy Maxmen,
Miami Herald,
11 Feb. 2026
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Noun
Petty Officer Jermiah Copeland received the sentence at a general court-martial after pleading guilty to unpremeditated murder and related charges in the death of Culinary Specialist 3rd Class Angelina Resendiz, Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) said Tuesday in a news release.
—
Stephen Sorace,
FOXNews.com,
10 June 2026
Because prosecutors charged him as a civilian defendant rather than through a court-martial, his case falls under the same framework as any federal financial or national security crime.
—
Walter Pavlo,
Forbes.com,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
The base provost marshal and military police supported the driver, and Robinson was subject to court-martial.
—
Assistant Sports Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
15 Apr. 2026
In 2014, the Navy threatened to court-martial one of its nurses at Guantánamo who refused to force-feed prisoners on hunger strike, who were protesting inhumane treatment and indefinite detention.
—
Amy Maxmen,
Miami Herald,
11 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for court-martial
Video
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'Poets laureate'? 'Court-martials'? The curious history of postpositive adjectives in English.
Cite this Entry
“Court-martial.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/court-martial. Accessed 2 Jul. 2026.
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