on trial

phrase

: 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 way

The controversial case has put the entire health care system on trial.

Examples of on trial in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Fifty-seven individuals were on trial, including company executives, engineers and transport ministry officials. — CNN Money, 16 July 2026

According to the Public Prosecutor’s Office, the gang members are on trial for involvement in a total of 14,420 crimes — including 444 killings — committed between 2012 and 2022. — Los Angeles Times, 15 July 2026

Kesko will repaint or scrap one truck, the clip will make its rounds, and next week Finns will go back to buying their milk, with the brand never having been in much danger and its composure the only thing that was ever really on trial. — Alexander Puutio, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026

To recount, every European NATO member — plus Canada — was effectively on trial coming into this gathering. — Justina Lee, CNBC, 10 July 2026

Rhymes for on trial

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