on trial
idiom
: in a situation in which evidence against one is presented in a court to a judge and often a jury to decide if one is guilty of a crime
on trial for murder
She went on trial for possession of drugs.
—sometimes used figuratively to indicate that people will think about something in a critical wayThe controversial case has put the entire health care system on trial.
Examples of on trial in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Its future as a racing complex is now officially on trial.
—
Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 13 Apr. 2025
Wilson Martell-Lebron was on trial for making false statements on his driver's license application when plainclothes ICE agents took him into custody.
—Trevor Hughes, USA Today, 3 Apr. 2025
Adams was scheduled to go on trial in April until new leadership at the Justice Department under the Trump administration ordered prosecutors in New York in February to drop the case.
—Carrie Johnson, NPR, 2 Apr. 2025
Her mother, Kelly, is currently on trial for kidnapping and human trafficking charges in the High Court in Saldanha on the Cape West Coast, according to local outlet Voice of the Cape.
—Sean Neumann, People.com, 19 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for on trial
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.
Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 13 Apr. 2025
Wilson Martell-Lebron was on trial for making false statements on his driver's license application when plainclothes ICE agents took him into custody.
—Trevor Hughes, USA Today, 3 Apr. 2025
Adams was scheduled to go on trial in April until new leadership at the Justice Department under the Trump administration ordered prosecutors in New York in February to drop the case.
—Carrie Johnson, NPR, 2 Apr. 2025
Her mother, Kelly, is currently on trial for kidnapping and human trafficking charges in the High Court in Saldanha on the Cape West Coast, according to local outlet Voice of the Cape.
—Sean Neumann, People.com, 19 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for on trial
Cite this Entry
“On trial.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/on%20trial. Accessed 17 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share