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

Shockley's current attorneys have been fighting for DNA testing of the evidence in the case that wasn't available in 2005 and argue that a mistrial should have been declared over misconduct by the jury foreperson, who showed off his book about a revenge killing to fellow jurors. —Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 13 Oct. 2025

After jurors were unable to make a decision, the trial ended in a mistrial. —Elizabeth Wolfe, CNN Money, 12 Oct. 2025

The man said no, triggering a mistrial on the rape count. —Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 11 Oct. 2025

Arthur Aidala, who represented Weinstein, called for a mistrial more than a dozen times throughout the five-week trial, and was denied each time. —Caitlin Huston, HollywoodReporter, 9 Oct. 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