double jeopardy

noun

1

: the putting of a person on trial for an offense for which he or she has previously been put on trial under a valid charge : two adjudications for one offense

2

: considerable danger or trouble from two sources

Examples of double jeopardy in a Sentence

constitutional protections against double jeopardy

Recent Examples on the Web

In May, Mangione’s legal team filed a motion to dismiss the New York state murder charges against him in the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, arguing that the cases against the suspect amount to double jeopardy. —Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 6 Aug. 2025

In the weeks and months that followed, Read’s attorneys took their case all the way to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit in Boston, which denied the double jeopardy request in mid-March, Boston.com reports. —Nicole Acosta, People.com, 16 July 2025

Having decided unanimously to acquit Read on the two serious charges, but stuck on the third, the jury was declared hung, resulting in a mistrial on all charges, giving prosecutors a mulligan — double jeopardy be damned. —Tom Blakely, Boston Herald, 27 June 2025

The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court denied Read’s double jeopardy appeal in February 2025, according to CBS News. —Lynsey Eidell, People.com, 19 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1862, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Legal Definition

double jeopardy

noun

: the prosecution of a person for an offense for which he or she has already been prosecuted see also jeopardy compare merger sense 3

Note: The Fifth Amendment to the Constitution states that no person shall “be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb.” The double jeopardy clause bars second prosecutions after either acquittal or conviction, and prohibits multiple punishments for the same offense.