nisi pri·us | \ -ˈprī-əs, -ˈprē-u̇s \
Legal Definition of nisi prius
: a court of record that tries an issue of fact before a jury and a single judge : trial court also : the proceedings in such a court : the conducting of jury trials long-distance travel eliminated the nisi prius practice of the justices — W. J. Brennan, Jr.
Keep scrolling for more
Comments on nisi prius
What made you want to look up nisi prius? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Test Your Vocabulary
Namesakes Word Quiz
- Which of the following is a fruit named after a Moroccan seaport?
Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?
TAKE THE QUIZ
Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.
TAKE THE QUIZLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridgedWords at Play
Ask the Editors
Word Games
- Namesakes Word Quiz
When names become words and then we ask you about...
Take the quiz - Farm Idioms Quiz
Not your children's farm quiz.
Take the quiz - Spell It
Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?
Take the quiz - Add Diction
Build a chain of words by adding one letter at a ...
Play the game
Share nisi prius