extrajudicial
adjective
ex·tra·ju·di·cial
ˌek-strə-jü-ˈdi-shəl 
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
Examples of extrajudicial in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Human rights organizations have raised concerns about the strikes, characterizing them as extrajudicial killings.
—
Adeola Adeosun, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Sep. 2025
Advocates for repeal say the sanctions regime is out of date, as it was passed by Congress to address Assad’s crimes against civilians, from torture to extrajudicial killings, disappearances, chemical weapons use and other atrocities.
—Laura Kelly, The Hill, 18 Sep. 2025
Counternarcotics operations tend to draw public support, but potentially extrajudicial strikes occasionally raise questions on Capitol Hill about congressional authorization for the use of military force — even among some Republicans.
—Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 8 Sep. 2025
There are widespread reports of extrajudicial killings, psychological intimidation, unlawful detentions, torture, child kidnappings and disappearances.
—Kim Hjelmgaard, USA Today, 24 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for extrajudicial
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Adeola Adeosun, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Sep. 2025
Advocates for repeal say the sanctions regime is out of date, as it was passed by Congress to address Assad’s crimes against civilians, from torture to extrajudicial killings, disappearances, chemical weapons use and other atrocities.
—Laura Kelly, The Hill, 18 Sep. 2025
Counternarcotics operations tend to draw public support, but potentially extrajudicial strikes occasionally raise questions on Capitol Hill about congressional authorization for the use of military force — even among some Republicans.
—Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 8 Sep. 2025
There are widespread reports of extrajudicial killings, psychological intimidation, unlawful detentions, torture, child kidnappings and disappearances.
—Kim Hjelmgaard, USA Today, 24 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for extrajudicial
Cite this Entry
“Extrajudicial.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/extrajudicial. Accessed 10 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLegal Definition
extrajudicial
adjective
ex·tra·ju·di·cial
ˌek-strə-ju̇-ˈdi-shəl
1
: not involving, occurring in, or forming part of a legal proceeding
a creditor's extrajudicial repossession of property
an extrajudicial investigation
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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