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

Jason Meade's first trial ended in 2024 with a mistrial. —Deena Zaru, ABC News, 23 Apr. 2026

The judge upheld the first two convictions but declared a mistrial on the final rape charge after the jury foreperson refused to keep deliberating. —Alexa Herrera, CBS News, 21 Apr. 2026

Read was first tried in the summer of 2024 but that ended in a mistrial when the jury could not reach a unanimous verdict. —Flint McColgan, Boston Herald, 16 Apr. 2026

Her child molesting trial ended in mistrial in November after a detective misattributed an answer during his testimony. —Meredith Colias-Pete, Chicago Tribune, 16 Apr. 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
• 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