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

The judge also denied the defense’s request for a mistrial but allowed a break in the trial to give the attorneys time to review the more than 150 calls, many in Spanish, that had to be translated, according to court documents. — Shambhavi Rimal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 Aug. 2026

In the subsequent year, he was arrested and his case resulted in a mistrial in June. — T. Michelle Murphy, Time, 5 Aug. 2026

The man accused of sparking the Palisades Fire will be tried again this fall after his first federal arson case ended in a mistrial in June. — ABC News, 4 Aug. 2026

Prosecutors didn’t call George Jones to the stand in Rashaun Jones’ original trial, which ended in a mistrial in March after a six-person jury said it was deadlocked. — Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 30 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1628, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for mistrial

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

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