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

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web The unit the president closed down for alleged extrajudicial killings has been replaced by another unit with a similar mission and brutal style, according to Otsieno Namwaya, East Africa director for Human Rights Watch. Michael M. Phillips, WSJ, 1 Mar. 2023 Some locals say the increase of jihadi violence against the military is revenge for torture and extrajudicial killings by soldiers against people presumed to be jihadis. Sam Mednick, BostonGlobe.com, 25 Feb. 2023 The European Union imposed sanctions on Mr. Zakharov last year, accusing him of being responsible for human rights abuses in the African country, including extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions and killings. Anatoly Kurmanaev, New York Times, 16 Dec. 2022 Nor are extrajudicial misdeeds what drove 72 percent of respondents in a March 2022 C-SPAN poll to favor adoption of a code of ethics for the Supreme Court, like that in place for lower federal courts. Simon Lazarus, The New Republic, 26 Jan. 2023 While in office, Duterte frequently targeted Rappler for its critical coverage of his administration, which included reporting on his extrajudicial war on drugs that left thousands dead, many of whom were poor Filipinos. Jhesset O. Enano, Washington Post, 18 Jan. 2023 China isn’t the only superpower to be accused of employing extrajudicial means to reach targets for law enforcement or for the purposes of political persecution abroad. Nina Dos Santos, CNN, 4 Dec. 2022 In 2019, the creator of the character, Gerry Conway, said he was enraged to see police sporting the logo of an antihero known for his extrajudicial methods. Dallas News, 13 July 2022 Romanova also said the inmates’ vulnerable position and lack of any legal protection had freed Wagner to engage in extrajudicial executions of ex-convicts who violated the mercenary group’s rules. Francesca Ebel, Washington Post, 23 Dec. 2022 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'extrajudicial.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Word History

First Known Use

1630, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of extrajudicial was in 1630

Dictionary Entries Near extrajudicial

Cite this Entry

“Extrajudicial.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/extrajudicial. Accessed 27 Mar. 2023.

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
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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