pretrial
adjective
pre·tri·al
ˌprē-ˈtrī(-ə)l 
variants
or pre-trial
: occurring or existing before a trial
a pretrial hearing
Examples of pretrial in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In January, Judge Michael Bowman rejected a defense motion to reduce the murder charges to manslaughter, and last month, Bowman also rejected a defense motion to move the trial out of Sacramento County because of extensive pretrial publicity.
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Carlos E. Castañeda, CBS News, 21 Apr. 2026
In accordance with the county’s noncooperation policy, the Fairfax County Sheriff’s Office, which oversees the county’s jail, did not honor a 2023 federal detention request to hold Jalloh in pretrial detention until ICE could assume custody.
—Mia Cathell, The Washington Examiner, 19 Apr. 2026
The pretrial testimony came as Robinson’s attorneys pressed a Utah judge to ban cameras from his case.
—Matthew Brown, Chicago Tribune, 18 Apr. 2026
Manny Atwal, Boelter’s federal defender, said the death penalty decision will dictate what pretrial motions the defense files.
—Nick Ferraro, Twin Cities, 17 Apr. 2026
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Carlos E. Castañeda, CBS News, 21 Apr. 2026
In accordance with the county’s noncooperation policy, the Fairfax County Sheriff’s Office, which oversees the county’s jail, did not honor a 2023 federal detention request to hold Jalloh in pretrial detention until ICE could assume custody.
—Mia Cathell, The Washington Examiner, 19 Apr. 2026
The pretrial testimony came as Robinson’s attorneys pressed a Utah judge to ban cameras from his case.
—Matthew Brown, Chicago Tribune, 18 Apr. 2026
Manny Atwal, Boelter’s federal defender, said the death penalty decision will dictate what pretrial motions the defense files.
—Nick Ferraro, Twin Cities, 17 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pretrial
Cite this Entry
“Pretrial.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pretrial. Accessed 23 Apr. 2026.
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