on trial
idiom
: 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 wayThe controversial case has put the entire health care system on trial.
Examples of on trial in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Nathan was due to be on trial in October 2022.
—
Lea Veloso, StyleCaster, 21 Nov. 2025
The defendants, who have pleaded not guilty, are on trial for murder of a law enforcement officer and other charges.
—Joe Holden, CBS News, 19 Nov. 2025
The three are already on trial on insurrection charges relating to the martial law declaration.
—Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 14 Nov. 2025
Within months of the defeat of Nazi Germany in 1945, the Allied powers put its surviving leaders on trial in Nuremberg, the ceremonial birthplace of the fascist party and site of propaganda rallies leading up to World War II.
—NPR, 11 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for on trial
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Lea Veloso, StyleCaster, 21 Nov. 2025
The defendants, who have pleaded not guilty, are on trial for murder of a law enforcement officer and other charges.
—Joe Holden, CBS News, 19 Nov. 2025
The three are already on trial on insurrection charges relating to the martial law declaration.
—Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 14 Nov. 2025
Within months of the defeat of Nazi Germany in 1945, the Allied powers put its surviving leaders on trial in Nuremberg, the ceremonial birthplace of the fascist party and site of propaganda rallies leading up to World War II.
—NPR, 11 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for on trial
Cite this Entry
“On trial.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/on%20trial. Accessed 27 Nov. 2025.
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