mistrial

noun

mis·​tri·​al ˈmis-ˌtrī(-ə)l 

: a trial that has no legal effect with regard to one or more of the charges brought against the defendant because of some serious error or prejudicial misconduct in the proceedings or a hung jury

Examples of mistrial in a Sentence

The judge declared a mistrial.

Recent Examples on the Web

However, her initial case ended in a mistrial in 2024 after a jury was unable to reach a unanimous verdict. —Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 31 Dec. 2025

He was relieved of duty from the State Police immediately after that trial ended in mistrial and was suspended without pay about a week later following an internal hearing. —Flint McColgan, Boston Herald, 21 Dec. 2025

During Read's first trial in 2024, a deadlocked jury led to a mistrial. —Matt Schooley, CBS News, 10 Dec. 2025

Jackson declared a mistrial on the case. —Caelyn Pender, Mercury News, 5 Dec. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1628, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for mistrial

• denial
• posttrial
• pretrial
• retrial
• dial
• rial
• thiol
• trial
• vial
• sensorial
• supervisorial

Kids Definition

mistrial

noun

mis·​tri·​al ˈmis-ˌtrī(-ə)l 

: a trial that is cancelled because of an error in the proceedings

Legal Definition

mistrial

noun

mis·​tri·​al ˈmis-ˌtrī-əl 

: a trial that terminates without a verdict because of error, necessity, prejudicial misconduct, or a hung jury see also manifest necessity compare dismissal sense 2, trial de novo