grand jury

noun

: a jury that examines accusations against persons charged with crime and if the evidence warrants makes formal charges on which the accused persons are later tried

grand juror noun

Examples of grand jury in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Cox said the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office, district attorney’s office and civil grand jury will be invited to look at the findings. —Chris Biderman, Sacramento Bee, 24 Jan. 2025

Former Oakland, California, Mayor Sheng Thao, who was recalled by voters in November, has been indicted by a federal grand jury on corruption charges. —Louis Casiano, Fox News, 17 Jan. 2025

The indictment, handed down by a grand jury at the U.S. District Court in Oakland, was filed Jan. 9 and unsealed Friday. —Jessica Garrison, Los Angeles Times, 17 Jan. 2025

Charged as an adult Derek was initially charged with second murder and was later indicted as an adult by a Miami-Dade grand jury and the charges were upgraded to first-degree. —Milena Malaver, Miami Herald, 17 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

grand jury

noun

: a jury that chiefly examines accusations of crime made against persons and if the evidence warrants makes formal charges on which the accused persons are later tried

Legal Definition

grand jury

noun

: a jury that examines accusations against persons charged with crime and if the evidence warrants makes formal charges on which the accused persons are later tried see also no bill and true bill at bill sense 3b, indictment compare petit jury, special grand jury