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

The dispute is almost certain to move beyond the district court once her ruling is issued. —Robert Alexander, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Dec. 2025

He was initially indicted in Texas district court in January and charged with international cocaine trafficking conspiracy, then recharged in a second indictment in April that additionally accused him of supporting a foreign terrorist organization. —Emily Mae Czachor, CBS News, 3 Dec. 2025

The Supreme Court in May allowed Trump’s transgender military service ban to take effect while litigation continues, after a district court had temporarily blocked it nationwide. —Jack Birle, The Washington Examiner, 30 Nov. 2025

But the Louisiana Supreme Court allowed the district court to rule on Duncan’s bail request, paving the way for his release. —Landon Mion, FOXNews.com, 27 Nov. 2025

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