on trial
idiom
: in a situation in which evidence against one is presented in a court to a judge and often a jury to decide if one is guilty of a crime
on trial for murder
She went on trial for possession of drugs.
—sometimes used figuratively to indicate that people will think about something in a critical wayThe controversial case has put the entire health care system on trial.
Examples of on trial in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Now Soto, a 37-year-old Vallejo resident, is on trial facing a charge of murder.
—
Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 10 Feb. 2026
Why are Meta, YouTube on trial?
—Melina Khan, USA Today, 10 Feb. 2026
What could be higher personal stakes than this, than being on trial for your own life?
—Pat Saperstein, Variety, 7 Feb. 2026
Elsewhere, will Canada put Tate McRae on trial for treason?
—The Editors, Vulture, 5 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for on trial
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Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 10 Feb. 2026
Why are Meta, YouTube on trial?
—Melina Khan, USA Today, 10 Feb. 2026
What could be higher personal stakes than this, than being on trial for your own life?
—Pat Saperstein, Variety, 7 Feb. 2026
Elsewhere, will Canada put Tate McRae on trial for treason?
—The Editors, Vulture, 5 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for on trial
Cite this Entry
“On trial.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/on%20trial. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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