direct examination

noun

: the first examination of a witness by the party calling the witness compare cross-examination

Examples of direct examination in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

During her direct examination in the retrial, Dever testified that Cox called her into his office and that the commissioner told her the department would support her and to tell the truth. —Lance Reynolds, Boston Herald, 11 July 2025

Her direct examination should go until Monday, lead prosecutor Maurene Ryan Comey has said. —Adam Reiss, NBC news, 6 June 2025

The 38-year-old, who is eight months pregnant with her third child, had been poised and confident throughout her direct examination from Southern District of New York prosecutor Emily Johnson. —Cheyenne Roundtree, Rolling Stone, 15 May 2025

That left the defense to call them and the defense did not want to do direct examinations on these individuals. —Elise Hammond, CNN Money, 19 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1859, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for direct examination

• americanization
• anticoagulation
• antidiscrimination
• bioaccumulation
• bioremediation
• compartmentalization
• contextualization
• copolymerization
• decriminalization
• dehumidification
• demilitarization
• demineralization

Legal Definition

direct examination

noun

: the first examination of a witness by the party calling the witness compare cross-examination, redirect examination

Note: As a general rule, leading questions are not allowed on direct examination, but there are exceptions, as when the witness is shown to be hostile.