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
After a high-profile, nine-week trial in 2024, Norfolk Superior Court Judge Beverly Cannone declared a mistrial on July 1, 2024, when jurors were unable to reach a verdict.
—
Kc Baker, People.com, 31 Mar. 2025
She was tried last year, but that ended in mistrial.
—Flint McColgan, Boston Herald, 27 Mar. 2025
The judge declared a mistrial on July 1 after the jury said it was deadlocked on the fifth day of deliberations.
—Paul Du Quenoy, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Mar. 2025
The fact that there had been a mistrial didn’t prevent Conley from pursuing the ineffective assistance claim, the ruling states, noting that the failure to block the warrant in the first trial led to the introduction of cellphone evidence in the second.
—Tim Stelloh, NBC news, 21 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for mistrial
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Kc Baker, People.com, 31 Mar. 2025
She was tried last year, but that ended in mistrial.
—Flint McColgan, Boston Herald, 27 Mar. 2025
The judge declared a mistrial on July 1 after the jury said it was deadlocked on the fifth day of deliberations.
—Paul Du Quenoy, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Mar. 2025
The fact that there had been a mistrial didn’t prevent Conley from pursuing the ineffective assistance claim, the ruling states, noting that the failure to block the warrant in the first trial led to the introduction of cellphone evidence in the second.
—Tim Stelloh, NBC news, 21 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for mistrial
Cite this Entry
“Mistrial.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mistrial. Accessed 7 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share