on trial
idiom
: in a situation in which evidence against one is presented in a court to a judge and often a jury to decide if one is guilty of a crime
on trial for murder
She went on trial for possession of drugs.
—sometimes used figuratively to indicate that people will think about something in a critical wayThe controversial case has put the entire health care system on trial.
Examples of on trial in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Karen Read is back on trial, and on this week’s episode of the Hulu-exclusive docuseries Impact x Nightline, ABC News’ Chief National Correspondent Matt Guttman is diving into the latest.
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Erin Lassner, HollywoodReporter, 24 Apr. 2025
Brooker puts the carnivorous culture of reality TV on trial in this diabolical hour, set in a world where lower-caste citizens pedal stationary bikes to power their surroundings and earn meager currency.
—Charles Bramesco, Vulture, 10 Apr. 2025
Adams, the first sitting New York City mayor to face criminal indictment in modern history, pleaded not guilty to all the charges and, prior to the Trump DOJ’s intervention, had been scheduled to go on trial on April 21.
—Josephine Stratman, New York Daily News, 2 Apr. 2025
Castaneda, 49, of Brick, New Jersey, is on trial this week.
—Meredith Colias-Pete, Chicago Tribune, 25 Mar. 2025
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Erin Lassner, HollywoodReporter, 24 Apr. 2025
Brooker puts the carnivorous culture of reality TV on trial in this diabolical hour, set in a world where lower-caste citizens pedal stationary bikes to power their surroundings and earn meager currency.
—Charles Bramesco, Vulture, 10 Apr. 2025
Adams, the first sitting New York City mayor to face criminal indictment in modern history, pleaded not guilty to all the charges and, prior to the Trump DOJ’s intervention, had been scheduled to go on trial on April 21.
—Josephine Stratman, New York Daily News, 2 Apr. 2025
Castaneda, 49, of Brick, New Jersey, is on trial this week.
—Meredith Colias-Pete, Chicago Tribune, 25 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for on trial
Cite this Entry
“On trial.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/on%20trial. Accessed 4 May. 2025.
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