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

Before fatally stabbing Zarutska, according to court records, Brown had been on a pretrial release over a misdemeanor offense that was ordered by a magistrate after Cooper left office. — Corey Williams, Chicago Tribune, 18 Sep. 2026

Among issues to be addressed at Friday’s pretrial hearing is Teuber’s motion requesting the court set bond or release him on his own recognizance. — David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 16 Sep. 2026

Dressed a black suit and a crisp white shirt, the 81-year-old joined a pretrial hearing that focused largely on scheduling concerns ahead of the trial's official start, expected in November. — ABC News, 16 Sep. 2026

At a detention hearing Tuesday, a judge denied Walsh’s request for pretrial release to a locked hospital setting. — Greg Wehner, FOXNews.com, 8 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1894, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for pretrial

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

Legal Definition

pretrial

adjective

pre·​tri·​al

ˌprē-ˈtrī-əl

: existing or occurring before trial

a pretrial motion

a pretrial detainee