subpoena

1 of 2

noun

sub·​poe·​na sə-ˈpē-nə How to pronounce subpoena (audio)
nonstandard
-nē How to pronounce subpoena (audio)
: a writ commanding a person designated in it to appear in court under a penalty for failure

subpoena

2 of 2

verb

subpoenaed; subpoenaing

transitive verb

: to serve or summon with a writ of subpoena

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The Origin of Subpoena

If you think you recognize the sub- in subpoena as the prefix meaning "under, beneath, below," you're on target. Subpoena arrived in Modern English (via the Middle English suppena) from the Latin sub poena, a combination of sub and poena, meaning "penalty." Other poena descendants in English include impunity ("freedom from penalty"), penal ("of or relating to punishment"), and even punish. There is also the verb subpoena, as in "Defense lawyers have subpoenaed several witnesses to the crime."

Examples of subpoena in a Sentence

Noun received a subpoena to appear as a witness for the prosecution Verb He was subpoenaed to testify in a hearing. The prosecutor subpoenaed the defendant's financial records.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
This back and forth stems from a motion by Swift’s camp at Venable LLP to quash a subpoena to produce documents, which was served on May 9. Jack Dunn, Variety, 15 May 2025 Venable filed a motion on May 12 seeking to cancel the subpoena, which Lively and Reynolds’ legal team joined in on the filing. Lea Veloso, StyleCaster, 15 May 2025
Verb
Snapchats tell a devastating story — 'U killed him' During their investigation, Novi police subpoenaed Snapchat and obtained numerous chats — or Snaps, as they are called — that were shared among users in the hours and days before and after Preka's death. Tresa Baldas, USA Today, 28 Apr. 2025 Federal investigators have since subpoenaed Dolton, Thornton Township and Thornton Township District 205 for financial information and other records related to Henyard. Olivia Stevens, Chicago Tribune, 2 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for subpoena

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English suppena, from Latin sub poena under penalty

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1640, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of subpoena was in the 15th century

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Cite this Entry

“Subpoena.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/subpoena. Accessed 20 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

subpoena

1 of 2 noun
sub·​poe·​na sə-ˈpē-nə How to pronounce subpoena (audio)
: an order in writing commanding a person named in it to appear in court under a penalty for failure to appear

subpoena

2 of 2 verb
subpoenaed; subpoenaing
: to serve or summon with a subpoena
Etymology

Noun

from the Latin phrase sub poena "under penalty"; used as the beginning words of the order

Legal Definition

subpoena

1 of 2 noun
sub·​poe·​na
variants also subpena
sə-ˈpē-nə
: a writ commanding a designated person upon whom it has been served to appear (as in court or before a congressional committee) under a penalty (as a charge of contempt) for failure to comply compare summons

subpoena

2 of 2 transitive verb
variants also subpena
subpoenaed; subpoenaing
: to call before a court or hearing by a subpoena
the inspector is given the power to subpoena any relevant…witnessesHarvard Law Review
also : to command the production of (evidence) by a subpoena duces tecum
subpoenaed documents
Etymology

Noun

Latin sub poena under penalty

More from Merriam-Webster on subpoena

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