courthouse

noun court·house \ ˈkȯrt-ˌhau̇s \

|Updated on: 14 Jun 2018

Definition of courthouse

1 a : a building in which courts of law are regularly held

b : the principal building in which county offices are housed

2 : county seat

See courthouse defined for English-language learners

See courthouse defined for kids

Recent Examples of courthouse from the Web

Days later, a defense attorney called Chatman back to the stand to show the jury a T-shirt the officer wore to the courthouse during his earlier testimony but did not have on in the presence of the jury.

— keith l. alexander, Washington Post, "Second Inauguration Day trial ends with no conviction of four defendants," 7 June 2018
One case drew national headlines in February 2017, when an undocumented transgender woman from Mexico went to a courthouse in El Paso County, Tex.

— cora engelbrecht, New York Times, "Fewer Immigrants Are Reporting Domestic Abuse. Police Blame Fear of Deportation.," 3 June 2018
But just before trial begins, Sacker finds out that Lugo was killed on his way to the courthouse.

— refinery29.com, "Billions Season 3, Episode 9 Recap: "Sitting Here In The Dark, Like An Assassin"," 21 May 2018
But he and his wife, Thamara Caleno, were never brought to the courthouse by jailers at El Helicoide.

— NBC News, "American Joshua Holt, held in Venezuelan prison, pleads for help: 'They want to kill me'," 17 May 2018
Many marched in support from Wyman Park to the courthouse.

— christina tkacik, baltimoresun.com, "Fifty years later, Catonsville Nine draft protest inspires activists, angers opponents," 9 May 2018
He, like his predecessors, Rick Perry and George W. Bush, received a summons while in office and reported to the courthouse.

— jeff brown, star-telegram, "Too many Texans dodge jury duty | Fort Worth Star-Telegram," 3 May 2018
An attorney for the Department of Justice stood with industry lawyers in the federal courthouse in San Francisco, echoing their request that the cases be dropped.

— kurtis alexander, SFChronicle.com, "Oil companies want SF, Oakland climate lawsuits dismissed," 24 May 2018
Clarissa attended a few of Watts’s court dates at the federal courthouse in downtown Chicago.

— jennifer gonnerman, The New Yorker, "How One Woman’s Fight to Save Her Family Helped Lead to a Mass Exoneration," 19 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'courthouse.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of courthouse

15th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

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COURTHOUSE Defined for English Language Learners

courthouse

noun

Definition of courthouse for English Language Learners

: a building in which legal cases are heard

COURTHOUSE Defined for Kids

courthouse

noun court·house \ ˈkȯrt-ˌhau̇s \

Definition of courthouse for Students

1 : a building in which courts of law are held

2 : a building in which county offices are housed

Law Dictionary

courthouse

noun court·house

legal Definition of courthouse

: a building in which court is regularly held

Learn More about courthouse

See words that rhyme with courthouse Spanish Central: Translation of courthouse Nglish: Translation of courthouse for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of courthouse for Arabic speakers

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courthouse

Definition of courthouse

Recent Examples of courthouse from the Web

First Known Use of courthouse

COURTHOUSE Defined for English Language Learners

courthouse

Definition of courthouse for English Language Learners

COURTHOUSE Defined for Kids

courthouse

Definition of courthouse for Students

Law Dictionary

courthouse

legal Definition of courthouse

Learn More about courthouse

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courthouse

Definition of courthouse

Recent Examples of courthouse from the Web

First Known Use of courthouse

COURTHOUSE Defined for English Language Learners

courthouse

Definition of courthouse for English Language Learners

COURTHOUSE Defined for Kids

courthouse

Definition of courthouse for Students

Law Dictionary

courthouse

legal Definition of courthouse

Learn More about courthouse

Seen and Heard

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