criminal court

noun

: a court that has jurisdiction to try and punish offenders against criminal law

Examples of criminal court in a Sentence

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.
Cindy Rodriguez-Singh, the Everman mother accused of killing her 6-year-old developmentally disabled son, appeared in a Tarrant County criminal court Thursday morning for an early pre-trial hearing. Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 Oct. 2025 When the criminal court jury returned its verdict, handing Mayers a resounding victory, the rapper and actor dove over a waist-high courtroom barrier to embrace Rihanna, who was seated in the front row. Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 14 Oct. 2025 Others, however, point to the jury's acquittal as indicative of the way criminal courts continue to fail survivors. Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 10 Oct. 2025 The pool of money comes from fines and penalties collected in federal criminal court cases. Drake Bentley, jsonline.com, 6 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for criminal court

Word History

First Known Use

1605, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of criminal court was in 1605

Cite this Entry

“Criminal court.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/criminal%20court. Accessed 26 Oct. 2025.

Legal Definition

criminal court

noun
: a court that has jurisdiction to try criminal defendants

More from Merriam-Webster on criminal court

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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