show trial

noun

: a trial (as of political opponents) in which the verdict is rigged and a public confession is often extracted

Examples of show trial in a Sentence

They were forced to confess their guilt in public show trials.

Recent Examples on the Web

The subsequent court case involving the Francoist throwback police culprits became a show trial for Spain’s young democracy. — John Hopewell, Variety, 27 Oct. 2026

Russian authorities arrested them, convicted them in show trials, and sends them to long prison terms with absolutely no legitimate reason whatsoever. — ABC News, 27 Sep. 2026

Joseph Stalin began the Great Purge of his rivals, prominent Old Bolsheviks, as the first show trial opened. — USA Today, 4 Aug. 2026

Soon after arriving in Mexico, Trotsky called for an international tribunal to review the charges against him from the Moscow show trials (1936–1938) and to present his defense. — Literary Hub, 28 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1928, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for show trial

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