mistrial

noun

mis·​tri·​al ˈmis-ˌtrī(-ə)l 

: a trial that has no legal effect with regard to one or more of the charges brought against the defendant because of some serious error or prejudicial misconduct in the proceedings or a hung jury

Examples of mistrial in a Sentence

The judge declared a mistrial.

Recent Examples on the Web

July 1, 2024: A mistrial is declared, per People, after a jury failed to come to a verdict. —Kathleen Walsh, Glamour, 22 Apr. 2025

He was relieved of duty shortly after the mistrial, and last month the state police fired him from the force. —Eric Levenson, CNN Money, 1 Apr. 2025

Read's first trial ended with a hung jury Jurors could not agree on a verdict after days of deliberations, resulting in a mistrial. —Michael Ruiz, FOXNews.com, 29 Mar. 2025

The jury in last year’s trial reported an impasse in deciding the charges— second-degree murder, manslaughter while operating a motor vehicle under the influence, and leaving the scene of an accident causing death — and Judge Beverly Cannone declared a mistrial. —Flint McColgan, Boston Herald, 26 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1628, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for mistrial

• denial
• posttrial
• pretrial
• retrial
• dial
• rial
• thiol
• trial
• vial
• sensorial
• supervisorial

Kids Definition

mistrial

noun

mis·​tri·​al ˈmis-ˌtrī(-ə)l 

: a trial that is cancelled because of an error in the proceedings

Legal Definition

mistrial

noun

mis·​tri·​al ˈmis-ˌtrī-əl 

: a trial that terminates without a verdict because of error, necessity, prejudicial misconduct, or a hung jury see also manifest necessity compare dismissal sense 2, trial de novo