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trial court

noun

: the court before which issues of fact and law are first determined as distinguished from an appellate court

Examples of trial court in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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The case now returns to the trial court, though the Rams have a right to appeal to the Supreme Court of Missouri. Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 25 Nov. 2025 The Pasig city regional trial court in metropolitan Manila sentenced Alice Guo to life in prison with seven other Filipino and Chinese co-accused, and ordered them to pay a fine of 2 million pesos ($34,000) each and compensate several trafficking victims, who filed the complaints. CNN Money, 21 Nov. 2025 As to the school's free speech claims, the trial court found the pregame speech broadcast over the PA system at the state championship game is government speech. Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 17 Nov. 2025 Substantial evidence supports the trial court’s true finding on that aggravating factor. Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 12 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for trial court

Word History

First Known Use

1889, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of trial court was in 1889

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Cite this Entry

“Trial court.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/trial%20court. Accessed 29 Nov. 2025.

Legal Definition

trial court

noun
: the court before which issues of fact and law are tried and first determined as distinguished from an appellate court

More from Merriam-Webster on trial court

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