open verdict
noun
British, law
: an official statement or decision saying that a crime has been committed but not naming a criminal, or saying that there has been a death but not naming the cause of death
Examples of open verdict in a Sentence
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Despite extensive testing and a medical inquest, the jury delivered an open verdict, leaving the mystery unsolved.
—
Steve Wiser, Louisville Courier Journal, 24 May 2025
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Steve Wiser, Louisville Courier Journal, 24 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Open verdict.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/open%20verdict. Accessed 21 Jul. 2025.
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