mistrial

noun

mis·​tri·​al ˈmis-ˌtrī(-ə)l How to pronounce mistrial (audio)
: 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
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.
By July 1, with jurors still unable to agree, the judge declared a mistrial. Michael Ruiz, FOXNews.com, 9 Apr. 2025 The Read trial has been anything but quiet since Judge Beverly J. Cannone declared a mistrial last summer. Flint McColgan, Boston Herald, 1 Apr. 2025 After a nine-week trial and five days of deliberations, a jury was unable to reach a unanimous verdict, and Norfolk County Superior Court Judge Beverly Cannone declared a mistrial. Tim Stelloh, NBC news, 31 Mar. 2025 But after two mistrials were declared when juries twice could not reach a unanimous verdict, prosecutors dismissed the charge against Fielder and he was freed in September 2017. Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 6 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for mistrial

Word History

First Known Use

1628, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of mistrial was in 1628

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Mistrial.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mistrial. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

mistrial

noun
mis·​tri·​al ˈmis-ˌtrī(-ə)l How to pronounce mistrial (audio)
: a trial that is cancelled because of an error in the proceedings

Legal Definition

mistrial

noun
mis·​tri·​al ˈmis-ˌtrī-əl How to pronounce mistrial (audio)
: 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

More from Merriam-Webster on mistrial

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