cross-examination

noun

cross-ex·​am·​i·​na·​tion ˈkrȯs-ig-ˌza-mə-ˈnā-shən 

: the examination of a witness who has already testified in order to check or discredit the witness's testimony, knowledge, or credibility compare direct examination

cross-examine

ˈkrȯs-ig-ˈza-mən 

verb

cross-examiner

ˈkrȯs-ig-ˈzam-nər, 

-ˈza-mə- 

noun

Examples of cross-examination in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

During cross-examination, attorney Kevin Reddington had Maffeo confirm that there was blood on Clancy's clothes and all over her bedroom. — Penny Kmitt, CBS News, 31 July 2026

During cross-examination, Burke’s defense attorney questioned whether the autopsy alone could determine who inflicted the fatal wounds. — Danielle Bacher, PEOPLE, 29 July 2026

Lindsay Clancy’s attorney, Kevin Reddington, has finished his cross-examination of her ex- husband, Patrick Clancy. — Nicki Brown, CNN Money, 29 July 2026

During cross-examination, defense lawyer Blair Berk asked him to confirm a text Rivas sent Burke on April 22, 2025, the day before prosecutors say she was killed. — Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 27 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1707, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for cross-examination

• acclimatisation
• acclimatization
• acidification
• actualization
• annualization
• autocorrelation
• autoregulation
• beatification
• beneficiation
• biodegradation
• biotransformation
• bureaucratization

Legal Definition

cross-examination

noun

: the examination of a witness who has already testified in order to check or discredit the witness's testimony, knowledge, or credibility see also confrontation clause compare direct examination, recross-examination, redirect examination

Note: In accordance with Rule 611 of the Federal Rules of Evidence, cross-examination should only refer to matters that were covered during direct examination or that are relevant to the witness's credibility. Anything exceeding these limits is permissible at the court's discretion. Leading questions are also ordinarily allowed on cross-examination under Rule 611.

cross-examine verb

cross-examiner noun