district court

noun

: a trial court that has jurisdiction over certain cases within a specific judicial district

Examples of district court in a Sentence

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.
The legal battle over state regulation of prediction markets is proceeding at various district courts and circuit appeals courts around the US. — Jon Brodkin, ArsTechnica, 8 July 2026 The panel suspended a district court's ruling last December that the law is unconstitutional. — ABC News, 6 July 2026 The district court first blocked enforcement of the law, and the Fourth Circuit later ruled against West Virginia on the Title IX claim while sending the Equal Protection issue back for more fact-finding. — Jackson Thompson Outkick, FOXNews.com, 1 July 2026 The bond was set for Roshawn Britt, 27, in a bail hearing Monday in Craighead County district court, a jail employee said. — Arkansas Online, 30 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for district court

Word History

First Known Use

1731, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of district court was in 1731

Rhymes for district court

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Browse Nearby Words

district council
district court
district heating
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Cite this Entry

“District court.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/district%20court. Accessed 14 Jul. 2026.

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Legal Definition

district court

noun
often capitalized D&C
: a trial court having general or limited jurisdiction in a judicial district: as
a
: one of the federal trial courts sitting in a federal district
b
: a trial court within a state court system

More from Merriam-Webster on district court

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about district court

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