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

Between when the first trial ended in mistrial on July 1, 2024, and when the new trial started in April, two major things occurred at the MSP. —Flint McColgan, Boston Herald, 20 June 2025

Read maintained her innocence throughout the two trials in the case – the first ending in a mistrial. —Melina Khan, USA Today, 19 June 2025

Read's first trial ended in a mistrial in July 2024 after the jury could not reach a verdict. —Nadine El-Bawab, ABC News, 18 June 2025

However, on Thursday, the juror refused to return to the deliberation room and a mistrial was called on that charge. —Caitlin Huston, HollywoodReporter, 12 June 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