extrajudicial

adjective

ex·​tra·​ju·​di·​cial ˌek-strə-jü-ˈdi-shəl 

1

a

: not forming a valid part of regular legal proceedings

an extrajudicial investigation

b

: delivered without legal authority : private sense 2a(1)

the judge's extrajudicial statements

2

: done in contravention of due process of law

an extrajudicial execution

extrajudicially

ˌek-strə-jü-ˈdi-sh(ə-)lē 

adverb

Examples of extrajudicial in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

No normal person is sympathetic to violent Venezuelan gang members, but once due process is ignored and everyone laughs at panty-waist judges, then the die is cast for other types of roundups and extrajudicial actions. —Steven Greenhut, Oc Register, 28 Mar. 2025

On his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump said Friday that people who deface Tesla locations could face extrajudicial rendition to El Salvador. —Kevin Collier, NBC news, 21 Mar. 2025

One example: Attorneys are barred from making extrajudicial statements that could impact court proceedings. —Pamela McClintock, The Hollywood Reporter, 23 Jan. 2025

Rappler was one of only a few news outlets to report consistently on these extrajudicial killings. —Erika Page, The Christian Science Monitor, 14 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1630, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for extrajudicial

• semiofficial
• artificial
• beneficial
• cicatricial
• interstitial
• nonjudicial
• nonofficial
• prejudicial
• sacrificial
• superficial
• unofficial
• initial

Legal Definition

extrajudicial

adjective

ex·​tra·​ju·​di·​cial ˌek-strə-ju̇-ˈdi-shəl 

1

: not involving, occurring in, or forming part of a legal proceeding

a creditor's extrajudicial repossession of property

an extrajudicial investigation

especially : out-of-court

an extrajudicial identification

2

: stemming from something outside of a court proceeding

a judge disqualified for bias that is extrajudicial and not derived from the evidence presented

3

: occurring or arising outside of the course of judicial duties

a judge's extrajudicial conduct

extrajudicially adverb