on trial

phrase

: in a situation in which evidence against one is presented in a court to a judge and often a jury to decide if one is guilty of a crime

on trial for murder

She went on trial for possession of drugs.

—sometimes used figuratively to indicate that people will think about something in a critical way

The controversial case has put the entire health care system on trial.

Examples of on trial in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Now, a detective says the investigation into Wallace’s death helped lead police to the suspect on trial in Las Vegas in Shakur’s slaying. — Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 21 Aug. 2026

Lindsay Clancy, 36, is on trial for murder in the January 2023 strangulation deaths of her three children – Cora, 5; Dawson, 3; and Callan, 8 months – at the family’s home in Duxbury, Massachusetts. — Alyssa Goldberg, USA Today, 21 Aug. 2026

Edgar, who was 17 at the time and is on trial as an adult, listened closely as the witnesses gave their testimony, juxtaposed by different angles of police and surveillance videos capturing those fateful minutes. — Cristóbal Reyes, The Orlando Sentinel, 20 Aug. 2026

Meta is once again on trial over dangers its platforms may pose to children. — Barbara Ortutay, Fortune, 19 Aug. 2026

Rhymes for on trial

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