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
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.
The case has not been formally filed in Seminole County court as of Thursday morning, and prosecutors have not yet determined whether the case will be handled in juvenile court. Cristóbal Reyes, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 June 2026 Some states allow prosecutors to ask juvenile court judges to waive jurisdiction after a hearing on the case. Jay Blitzman, The Conversation, 8 June 2026 Mears said his office has filed a petition to move the teen’s case, currently in juvenile court, to adult court. Kristine Phillips, USA Today, 6 June 2026 The identity of the teen, whose case remains in juvenile court, has not been released. Kristine Phillips, IndyStar, 5 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for juvenile court

Word History

First Known Use

1899, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of juvenile court was in 1899

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Juvenile court.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/juvenile%20court. Accessed 16 Jun. 2026.

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

More from Merriam-Webster on juvenile court

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster