test case

noun

1

: a representative case whose outcome is likely to serve as a precedent

2

: a proceeding brought by agreement or on an understanding of the parties to obtain a decision as to the constitutionality of a statute

Examples of test case in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The music industry is becoming a test case for an economy transformed by generative AI. — Charlotte Isidore, NPR, 18 Aug. 2026

That case was a bellwether, or test case, picked from thousands of similar civil tort lawsuits to give both plaintiffs and the defendants an idea of how their arguments fare in court. — ABC News, 17 Aug. 2026

Chief Critic The Wall Street Journal Editorial Board argues that the Delivery Protect Act is a test case for the Teamsters and its allies to eliminate subcontracted delivery work nationwide. — Pamela N. Danziger, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2026

One particularly interesting test case is Japan, one of the rare places where monovalent shots have been in use recently. — Brenda Goodman, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1850, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for test case

• abase
• airspace
• apace
• backspace
• biface
• birthplace
• blackface
• boldface
• bookcase
• braincase
• briefcase
• carcase

Legal Definition

test case

see also:

case sense 1a