cross-examination

noun

cross-ex·​am·​i·​na·​tion ˈkrȯs-ig-ˌza-mə-ˈnā-shən How to pronounce cross-examination (audio)
Synonyms of cross-examinationnext
: the examination of a witness who has already testified in order to check or discredit the witness's testimony, knowledge, or credibility compare direct examination
cross-examine verb
cross-examiner
ˈkrȯs-ig-ˈzam-nər
-ˈza-mə- How to pronounce cross-examination (audio)
noun

Examples of cross-examination in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Prosecutors pressed the Hawaii doctor accused of trying to kill his wife during a tense cross-examination Thursday, challenging his account of a violent confrontation on an Oahu hiking trail. Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 2 Apr. 2026 At the end of his cross-examination, Shohat asked Rubio to sign his copy of the former senator’s book, which elicited laughter in the packed courtroom. Miami Herald, 24 Mar. 2026 The criminal trial for North Andover, Massachusetts police officer Kelsey Fitzsimmons on Tuesday included tense cross-examination of the colleague who shot her. Penny Kmitt, CBS News, 24 Mar. 2026 Kunzweiler was representing the state that day alongside Meghan Hilborn, the assistant district attorney who had conducted the bruising cross-examination of Erica Harrison in July. Pamela Colloff, ProPublica, 24 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for cross-examination

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1707, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of cross-examination was circa 1707

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Cite this Entry

“Cross-examination.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cross-examination. Accessed 7 Apr. 2026.

Legal Definition

cross-examination

noun
: the examination of a witness who has already testified in order to check or discredit the witness's testimony, knowledge, or credibility see also confrontation clause compare direct examination, recross-examination, redirect examination

Note: In accordance with Rule 611 of the Federal Rules of Evidence, cross-examination should only refer to matters that were covered during direct examination or that are relevant to the witness's credibility. Anything exceeding these limits is permissible at the court's discretion. Leading questions are also ordinarily allowed on cross-examination under Rule 611.

cross-examine verb
cross-examiner noun

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