mistrial

noun

mis·​tri·​al ˈmis-ˌtrī(-ə)l 

: a trial that has no legal effect with regard to one or more of the charges brought against the defendant because of some serious error or prejudicial misconduct in the proceedings or a hung jury

Examples of mistrial in a Sentence

The judge declared a mistrial.

Recent Examples on the Web

She was tried last year but that ended in mistrial. —Flint McColgan, Boston Herald, 25 Apr. 2025

Just a few months earlier, a federal judge declared a mistrial after a jury deadlocked 11-1 on charges alleging former AT&T Illinois boss Paul La Schiazza bribed Madigan. —Sam Charles, Chicago Tribune, 23 Apr. 2025

Ferguson’s first trial ended in a mistrial after jury members were unable to come to a decision. —Kimberlee Speakman, People.com, 23 Apr. 2025

Their first trial, in 1993, ended in a mistrial after separate juries deadlocked and was closely watched by a national audience on TV. —Tim Arango, New York Times, 12 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1628, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for mistrial

• denial
• posttrial
• pretrial
• retrial
• dial
• rial
• thiol
• trial
• vial
• sensorial
• supervisorial

Kids Definition

mistrial

noun

mis·​tri·​al ˈmis-ˌtrī(-ə)l 

: a trial that is cancelled because of an error in the proceedings

Legal Definition

mistrial

noun

mis·​tri·​al ˈmis-ˌtrī-əl 

: a trial that terminates without a verdict because of error, necessity, prejudicial misconduct, or a hung jury see also manifest necessity compare dismissal sense 2, trial de novo