pretrial

adjective

pre·​tri·​al ˌprē-ˈtrī(-ə)l 

variants or pre-trial

: occurring or existing before a trial

a pretrial hearing

Examples of pretrial in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Walsh's defense is trying to get her pretrial release to a hospital. — Kelsie Cairns, FOXNews.com, 24 Sep. 2026

Lestina had a pretrial hearing set for Wednesday, and was listed in custody as of Wednesday morning, Kendall County detainee records show. — Aurora Beacon-News, Chicago Tribune, 23 Sep. 2026

Seen here in September 2021, the Irwin County Detention Center will hold about 400 federal pretrial inmates who had been in a facility in Lovejoy. — Reed Williams, AJC.com, 23 Sep. 2026

Both offices specifically referenced a recent California Supreme Court decision involving bail and pretrial detention. — Nicole Buss, Sacbee.com, 22 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1894, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for pretrial

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

Legal Definition

pretrial

adjective

pre·​tri·​al

ˌprē-ˈtrī-əl

: existing or occurring before trial

a pretrial motion

a pretrial detainee