jury

¹ American  

[joor-ee] / ˈdʒʊər i /

noun

juries plural

1. a group of persons sworn to render a verdict or true answer on a question or questions officially submitted to them.

2. such a group selected according to law and sworn to inquire into or determine the facts concerning a cause or an accusation submitted to them and to render a verdict to a court.

3. a group of persons chosen to adjudge prizes, awards, etc., as in a competition.

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verb (used with object)

juried, jurying

1. to judge or evaluate by means of a jury.

   All entries will be juried by a panel of professionals.

idioms

1. the jury is (still) out, a decision, determination, or opinion has yet to be rendered.

   The jury is still out on the president's performance.

jury ² American  

[joor-ee] / ˈdʒʊər i /

adjective

Nautical.

1. makeshift or temporary, as for an emergency.

   a jury mast.

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jury ¹ British  

/ ˈdʒʊərɪ /

noun

1. a group of, usually twelve, people sworn to deliver a true verdict according to the evidence upon a case presented in a court of law See also grand jury petit jury

2. a body of persons appointed to judge a competition and award prizes

3. informal it has not yet been decided or agreed on

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jury ² British  

/ ˈdʒʊərɪ /

adjective

1. nautical (in combination) makeshift

   jury-rigged

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Grammar

See collective noun.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• juryless
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• juries
  plural

Etymology

Origin of jury¹

1250–1300; Middle English jurie, juree, < Old French juree oath, juridical inquiry, noun use of juree, feminine past participle of jurer to swear; cf. jurat

Origin of jury²

1610–20; compare jury mast (early 17th century), of obscure origin; perhaps to be identified with late Middle English i ( u ) were help, aid, aphetic form of Old French ajurie, derivative of aidier to aid, with -rie -ry

Explanation

A jury is a group that decides a contest or a court case together. If you get summoned for jury duty and get picked as one of the 12 members of the jury, you’ll help decide if someone is guilty or not. A jury is any group that makes a group decision. In the County Fair, the stakes aren't so high — just respect for your baking skills or pig-raising talents. But many juries are convened by courts to decide whether someone is innocent or guilty. In this case, the jury is sworn to act according to the law. Jury comes from the Old French word for "oath," pointing to the promise to deliver the truth that a jury swears to.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

jury juries juried jurying

But if the agreement passes muster in court, it will let J&J move on from endless legal costs and the uncertainty of jackpot jury verdicts to providing health products for American consumers.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 28, 2026

A jury convicted him of a misdemeanor anyway, on the theory that a single six-pack sat in plain view, and a judge gave him the statutory minimum: a $1,500 fine and three days in jail.

From Slate ● Jul. 28, 2026

In 2023, the Riverside County district attorney’s office achieved a guilty verdict in the state’s first fentanyl-related homicide jury trial, which also resulted in a sentence of 15 years to life.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 25, 2026

They also said the judge misdirected the jury about evidence from another of the participants.

From BBC ● Jul. 24, 2026

“That’s not how it works. Both sides get to make a case. Attorneys are telling the jury why they’re right and the other side is wrong.”

From "A Good Kind of Trouble" by Lisa Moore Ramée

In Burke’s case, a number of witnesses have already testified before multiple grand juries, but the records from those hearings are sealed.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 21, 2026

The case had already been tried three times, once resulting in an overturned conviction and twice in hung juries.

From BBC ● Jun. 25, 2026

Not because teachers cannot be struck from juries.

From Slate ● Jun. 17, 2026

The bellwether trials, playing out separately in state and federal courts, are designed to serve as tests of evidence and how juries react, but don’t bind other pending cases.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 21, 2026

“There won’t be a trial by jury. No juries in juvenile court.”

From "Red Kayak" by Priscilla Cummings

The company introduced a beta version of its digital registry in August at the Santa Fe Indian Market, an annual juried event.

From New York Times ● Nov. 21, 2022

Find more than 110 unique juried sculptures, jewelry, home décor, wood and glasswork, fabrics and other local crafts.

From Seattle Times ● Jul. 28, 2022

The environmental and social-justice themes of “Fragile Beauty” are expressed mostly with paint, ink and pixels, but some of the 33 Washington artists in this juried show at the D.C.

From Washington Post ● Jun. 24, 2022

‘Drama: Story-Telling in Art’ The use of narrative in art is explored in this juried exhibition on view through March 19.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 1, 2022

Once the first two crates were completed, I carried them down to the art museum for consideration in their upcoming juried biennial.

From "Me Talk Pretty One Day" by David Sedaris

The totality resembles a juried exhibition that still needs some jurying.

From New York Times ● Jan. 29, 2015

Related Words

• board
• tribunal