extrajudicial

adjective

ex·​tra·​ju·​di·​cial ˌek-strə-jü-ˈdi-shəl How to pronounce extrajudicial (audio)
1
a
: not forming a valid part of regular legal proceedings
an extrajudicial investigation
b
: delivered without legal authority : private sense 2a(1)
the judge's extrajudicial statements
2
: done in contravention of due process of law
an extrajudicial execution
extrajudicially adverb

Examples of extrajudicial 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.
Duterte left office in 2022 and is now awaiting trial in The Hague on charges of crimes against humanity for allegedly allowing tens of thousands of extrajudicial killings during his war on the country's drug trade. Frank Langfitt, NPR, 1 May 2025 The report, which was the first of its kind to examine an extrajudicial killing by U.S. law enforcement, did not name Scott specifically. Alex Riggins, Mercury News, 1 May 2025 Several officers also said that Shah had presided over extrajudicial killings—including those of the alleged assassin Sohrabuddin Sheikh and the witnesses to his murder. Andrew Marantz, New Yorker, 28 Apr. 2025 But the collateral damage caused by so many extrajudicial deaths also mounted. Kathleen Magramo, CNN Money, 12 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for extrajudicial

Word History

First Known Use

1630, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of extrajudicial was in 1630

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Extrajudicial.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/extrajudicial. Accessed 14 May. 2025.

Legal Definition

extrajudicial

adjective
ex·​tra·​ju·​di·​cial ˌek-strə-ju̇-ˈdi-shəl How to pronounce extrajudicial (audio)
1
: not involving, occurring in, or forming part of a legal proceeding
a creditor's extrajudicial repossession of property
an extrajudicial investigation
especially : out-of-court
an extrajudicial identification
2
: stemming from something outside of a court proceeding
a judge disqualified for bias that is extrajudicial and not derived from the evidence presented
3
: occurring or arising outside of the course of judicial duties
a judge's extrajudicial conduct
extrajudicially adverb
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