test case

noun

1. a typical case whose court decision may be interpreted as a precedent for application in future similar cases.
2. a legal action taken, sometimes deliberately by agreement of both parties, with a special view to determining the position of the law on some matter, as the constitutionality of a statute.

test case

noun

1. a legal action that serves as a precedent in deciding similar succeeding cases

Word History and Origins

Origin of test case¹

First recorded in 1890–95

Example Sentences

This summer has been a test case for how eager — or willing — employees are to return to offices after coronavirus vaccinations became widely available.

From Washington Post

New York City is an important test case, though, because so many political and media elites live there.

From FiveThirtyEight

The early test cases in Washington, Colorado and Nevada have already revealed the challenges ahead.

From Time

In fact, these efforts are like test cases to establish what it takes to be fully compliant with Apple’s privacy rules.

From Digiday

“This is the real test case because we actually have a Planned Parenthood clinic here,” Rosen said.

From Washington Post

“They used Sochi as a test case for a more intrusive system,” Galeotti said.

From The Daily Beast

If the Virginia gubernatorial election was a test case, then the early answer is a clear “yes.”

From The Daily Beast

After petitioning for the assignment through her chain of command, the Navy decided to make her a test case.

From The Daily Beast

New Orleans offers a test case, on an unprecedented scale, of how this vision plays out.

From The Daily Beast

It turns out Afghanistan of the 1980s is a terrific test case for how to handle the Syrian rebels.

From The Daily Beast

From the Willamette valley to San Francisco—a test case soon to run a long course before the courts—lumber rates were $3.10.

From Project Gutenberg

Here she planned the steps by which to win public approval and financial aid for her test case.

From Project Gutenberg

She had been to him lately little more than a "test case" of the spiritual world, clothed about with the memory of sentiment.

From Project Gutenberg

This experience of ours, however, could not be regarded strictly as a test case.

From Project Gutenberg

In the test case which now came before the courts he played a part of consummate boldness and heroism.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• precedent