juvenile court

noun

: a court that has special jurisdiction over delinquent and dependent children usually up to the age of 18

Examples of juvenile court in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The teen boy was prosecuted in juvenile court for unrelated felonies, according to authorities. — Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 21 Aug. 2026

Juvenile petitions are required to initiate a juvenile court case. — Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 21 Aug. 2026

Two football players who were 18 years old at the time of the assaults — Isaiah Simpson and Josiah Peeler — are also facing charges, along with four others who are going through juvenile court. — Laura Fay, CBS News, 19 Aug. 2026

Today, most 16- and 17-year-olds who commit crimes are generally handled in juvenile court because policymakers recognize that adolescents differ from adults in judgment, impulse control, risk assessment, and susceptibility to peer influence. — Keith Wortz, Hartford Courant, 13 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1899, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for juvenile court

• abort
• airport
• alport
• athwart
• carport
• comport
• consort
• deport
• disport
• distort
• escort
• exhort

Legal Definition

juvenile court

noun

: a court that has jurisdiction over juvenile delinquency proceedings or other civil proceedings involving minors or juveniles compare family court