cross-examination

1 of 2

noun (1)

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

cross-examiner

2 of 2

noun (2)

cross-ex·​am·​in·​er ¦krȯs-ig-¦zam-nər 

-¦za-mə-

: one that cross-examines

Examples of cross-examination in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

But under cross-examination, prosecutors show the jury a video that captured the witness on the field stretching and not even looking in the stands until after the stabbing. —J.d. Miles, CBS News, 8 June 2026

But on cross-examination, the teen also agreed that people were sitting all around Anthony under the tent. —Suzanne Gamboa, NBC news, 8 June 2026

On cross-examination, Porter told defense attorney Toby Shook that footage doesn’t show when the altercation between Metcalf and Anthony begins or ends. —Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 June 2026

On cross-examination, Assistant District Attorney Reid White confronted Ananya with a moment from the night Sophie died. —Thomas Lake, AJC.com, 4 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Noun (1)

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