district court

noun

: a trial court that has jurisdiction over certain cases within a specific judicial district

Examples of district court in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The administration hailed the ruling as a monumental check on the powers of individual district court judges, whom Trump supporters have argued want to usurp the president’s authority with rulings blocking his priorities around immigration and other matters. Tim Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 28 June 2025 The administration hailed the ruling as a monumental check on the powers of individual district court judges, whom Trump supporters have argued are usurping the president’s authority with rulings blocking his priorities on immigration and other matters. Tim Sullivan, Los Angeles Times, 28 June 2025 Thanks to the Supreme Court's order from May of 2024, which put the district court's injunction on hold, the fair and legal map the Louisiana legislature enacted in response to our litigation remains in place while the case continues next year. Mandy Taheri, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 June 2025 The administration said the Supreme Court should, at a minimum, allow agencies to develop and issue public guidance while proceedings continue, and took aim at the breadth of the injunctions issued by the district courts. June 27, CBS News, 27 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for district court

Word History

First Known Use

1789, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of district court was in 1789

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Cite this Entry

“District court.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/district%20court. Accessed 10 Jul. 2025.

Legal Definition

district court

noun
often capitalized D&C
: a trial court having general or limited jurisdiction in a judicial district: as
a
: one of the federal trial courts sitting in a federal district
b
: a trial court within a state court system

More from Merriam-Webster on district court

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