miscarriage of justice

noun

: an outcome in a judicial proceeding that is unjust
especially : an error made in a court of law that results in an innocent person being punished or a guilty person being free
His conviction was a miscarriage of justice.

Examples of miscarriage of justice 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.
What was the result of that miscarriage of justice? Chicago Tribune, 9 Feb. 2025 The trial of Lucy Letby made headlines around the world due to the sheer horror and scale of the crimes for which she was convicted, but some believe the neonatal nurse is innocent and the victim of a miscarriage of justice. Ian Leonard, Fox News, 8 Feb. 2025 This is a heartbreaking example of a grave miscarriage of justice. Letters To The Editor, Orlando Sentinel, 4 Feb. 2025 By tacitly accepting this miscarriage of justice, Faith makes a devil’s bargain. A.a. Dowd, Vulture, 13 Jan. 2025 That many miscarriages of justice strongly suggests that other innocent people were put to death. Orlando Sentinel and South Florida Sun Sentinel Editorial Boards, Orlando Sentinel, 11 Jan. 2025 The result is a lot of false positives that can, and have, led to the miscarriage of justice. Avery Hurt, Discover Magazine, 5 Nov. 2024 Depending on which view one has of the case, the verdict likely will be seen as a commitment to the rule of law or a miscarriage of justice. Barbara McQuade, TIME, 29 May 2024 Lyle and Erik became staple fixtures on true crime TikTok accounts, with the majority calling their imprisonment a miscarriage of justice. Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 24 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1800, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of miscarriage of justice was in 1800

Dictionary Entries Near miscarriage of justice

Cite this Entry

“Miscarriage of justice.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/miscarriage%20of%20justice. Accessed 19 Feb. 2025.

Legal Definition

miscarriage of justice

mis·​car·​riage of justice
ˌmis-ˈkar-ij-, ˈmis-ˌkar-
: an error at trial that probably led to a less favorable outcome for the appealing party
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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