pretrial

adjective

pre·​tri·​al ˌprē-ˈtrī(-ə)l How to pronounce pretrial (audio)
variants or pre-trial
: occurring or existing before a trial
a pretrial hearing

Examples of pretrial 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.
Sheriff Garry McFadden previously attributed a surge in jail population to Iryna’s Law, state legislation named for the Ukrainian refugee killed on Charlotte’s light rail that, among other things, changed some pretrial release rules. Mary Ramsey may 20, Charlotte Observer, 20 May 2026 Davis was a pretrial inmate who had been held at the facility since March 30 following an indictment on a bank robbery charge, officials said. City News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 May 2026 Luigi Mangione during a pretrial hearing at New York State Supreme Court in New York, US, on Monday, May 18, 2026. Dan Mangan, CNBC, 18 May 2026 Glossip also submitted to a pretrial monitoring program and will not be able to travel outside Oklahoma, per the outlet. Jordana Comiter, PEOPLE, 15 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for pretrial

Word History

First Known Use

1894, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of pretrial was in 1894

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Pretrial.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pretrial. Accessed 21 May. 2026.

Legal Definition

pretrial

adjective
pre·​tri·​al
ˌprē-ˈtrī-əl
: existing or occurring before trial
a pretrial motion
a pretrial detainee
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