voir dire

noun

ˈvwär-ˈdir 

ˈwär-

: a preliminary examination to determine the competency of a witness or juror

Examples of voir dire in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Subramanian ruled that jury questionnaires would begin to be administered on April 28, voir dire process — a major part of jury selection — on May 5, and opening statements would take place on Monday, May 12. —Cheyenne Roundtree, Rolling Stone, 14 Mar. 2025

Just whittling down a potential pool of hundreds of jury candidates is expected to last as many as three days at the end of April, the judge said, before the final panel undergoes voir dire questioning, scheduled to begin the first few days of May. —Dominic Patten, Deadline, 14 Mar. 2025

The judge conducted a voir dire with juror no. 2, juror no. 4, and the foreperson. —Rick Sobey, Boston Herald, 1 Feb. 2025

Instead, the day was dedicated to voir dire of upcoming witnesses. —Flint McColgan, Boston Herald, 18 June 2024

Word History

Etymology

Anglo-French, literally, to speak the truth

First Known Use

1676, in the meaning defined above

Legal Definition

voir dire

1 of 2 noun

ˈvwär-ˈdir, ˈwär- 

: a formal examination especially to determine qualification (as of a proposed witness)

the judge admitted the witness's expert testimony after a voir dire by the attorney

especially : the act or process of questioning prospective jurors to determine which are qualified (as by freedom from bias) and suited for service on a jury

voir dire

2 of 2 transitive verb

voir dired; voir diring

: to examine in a voir dire proceeding

a motion to voir dire the witness outside the presence of the jury

voir diring prospective jurors as to their beliefs concerning the death penalty

—State v. Ortiz, 540 P.2d 850 (1975) (concur)

Etymology

Anglo-French, to speak the truth