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

Just last year, a Sacramento jury sentenced a man who shot and killed Sacramento police officer Tara O’Sullivan to die after two lengthy sentencing trials, including one that ended in a mistrial. —Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 28 May 2026

But the jurors deadlocked on the murder charges, resulting in a mistrial. —Sean Emery, Oc Register, 26 May 2026

That case ended in a mistrial Friday. —Alexa Herrera, CBS News, 18 May 2026

Harvey Weinstein‘s third New York rape trial has ended with a deadlocked jury and a state judge declaring a mistrial. —Dominic Patten, Deadline, 15 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1628, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for mistrial

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

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