pretrial
adjective
pre·tri·al
ˌprē-ˈtrī(-ə)l 
variants
or pre-trial
: occurring or existing before a trial
a pretrial hearing
Examples of pretrial in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Another board member, Wayne Bennett, was the sheriff in Glynn County, where the trial was moved because of pretrial publicity.
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CBS News, 30 Dec. 2025
With his pro per status affirmed last July, Tilley’s first big challenge was a Dec. 1 preliminary hearing, a pretrial hearing where prosecutors must reach the low legal threshold of probable cause in order to convince a judge to advance the case.
—Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 24 Dec. 2025
As Marc Agnifilo entered a Manhattan courtroom for a pretrial hearing this month, the defense attorney exchanged smiles with a group of observers in the gallery.
—Dan Adler, Vanity Fair, 23 Dec. 2025
Whether jurors visit Riverside Church during the trial is also a topic of pretrial debate.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 22 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pretrial
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CBS News, 30 Dec. 2025
With his pro per status affirmed last July, Tilley’s first big challenge was a Dec. 1 preliminary hearing, a pretrial hearing where prosecutors must reach the low legal threshold of probable cause in order to convince a judge to advance the case.
—Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 24 Dec. 2025
As Marc Agnifilo entered a Manhattan courtroom for a pretrial hearing this month, the defense attorney exchanged smiles with a group of observers in the gallery.
—Dan Adler, Vanity Fair, 23 Dec. 2025
Whether jurors visit Riverside Church during the trial is also a topic of pretrial debate.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 22 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pretrial
Cite this Entry
“Pretrial.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pretrial. Accessed 7 Jan. 2026.
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