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

After a district court order in November 2025 found Salina in violation of Howard’s constitutional rights, the city of Salina filed an appeal. — Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 7 Nov. 2026

Kalshi sought preliminary injunctions to prevent New York and Connecticut from enforcing their gambling laws, but both requests were rejected by US district court judges. — Jon Brodkin, ArsTechnica, 5 Nov. 2026

Four family district court judgeships also flipped, including in the 323rd District Court, where Judge Alex Kim has presided since 2019. — Emerson Clarridge, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 Nov. 2026

Neither the district court nor the 9th Circuit, however, agreed to the Justice Department's request. — Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 2 Nov. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1731, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for district court

• heliport
• nonsupport
• reexport
• teleport
• ultrashort
• abort
• airport
• alport
• athwart
• carport
• comport
• consort

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