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

Lindsay Clancy's defense attorney is planning to push for the charges against his client to be thrown out after her triple-murder case ended in a mistrial last week. — Melina Khan, USA Today, 10 Sep. 2026

On Friday, Judge William Sullivan declared a mistrial at Plymouth Superior Court after the jury deliberating whether Clancy was criminally responsible for the strangulation deaths of her three children said it was deadlocked three times. — Rebecca Cohen, NBC news, 9 Sep. 2026

Lindsay Clancy's trial ended in a mistrial after the Massachusetts jury could not reach a unanimous decision in the triple-murder case. — Aoife Walsh, Washington Post, 9 Sep. 2026

Here are some of the more notable cases that have ended in mistrials over the years. — Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 9 Sep. 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