true bill

noun

: a bill of indictment endorsed by a grand jury as warranting prosecution of the accused

Examples of true bill 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.
So to see a grand jury fail to return true bills multiple times over the past couple of months is remarkable and unprecedented. — John E. Jones Iii, The Conversation, 11 Feb. 2026 Grand jurors returned a true bill of indictment last week, agreeing there was sufficient evidence to move forward. — Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 17 Sep. 2025 The case was later presented to a criminal grand jury in Stockton, which returned a true bill of indictment. — Cecilio Padilla, CBS News, 16 Mar. 2026 Now greater accountability around no true bills might help dissuade further chicanery by prosecutors. — Quinta Jurecic, The Atlantic, 11 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for true bill

Word History

First Known Use

1616, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of true bill was in 1616

Rhymes for true bill

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Browse Nearby Words

true believer
true bill
true-blue
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Cite this Entry

“True bill.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/true%20bill. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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Legal Definition

true bill

see also:
bill sense 3b
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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