mistrial
noun
mis·tri·al
ˈmis-ˌtrī(-ə)l 
: 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
Contacted by Deadline today, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York declined to comment on the latest mistrial move.
—
Dominic Patten, Deadline, 7 June 2025
The judge dismissed the jury and heard arguments from the defense and prosecution about whether the question warranted a mistrial.
—Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 4 June 2025
Judge Beverly Cannone denied Karen Read a mistrial in her second murder trial in the killing of her cop boyfriend John O'Keefe on Tuesday.
—Nadine El-Bawab, ABC News, 3 June 2025
Another of Combs’ defense attorneys later demanded a mistrial.
—Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 28 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for mistrial
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Dominic Patten, Deadline, 7 June 2025
The judge dismissed the jury and heard arguments from the defense and prosecution about whether the question warranted a mistrial.
—Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 4 June 2025
Judge Beverly Cannone denied Karen Read a mistrial in her second murder trial in the killing of her cop boyfriend John O'Keefe on Tuesday.
—Nadine El-Bawab, ABC News, 3 June 2025
Another of Combs’ defense attorneys later demanded a mistrial.
—Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 28 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for mistrial
Cite this Entry
“Mistrial.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mistrial. Accessed 18 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
mistrial
noun
mis·tri·al
ˈmis-ˌtrī(-ə)l
: a trial that is cancelled because of an error in the proceedings
Legal Definition
mistrial
noun
mis·tri·al
ˈmis-ˌtrī-əl
: 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
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