Audiencia

American  

[aw-dee-en-see-uh, -chee-uh] / ˌɔ diˈɛn si ə, -tʃi ə /

noun

• Audiencias
  plural

1. Also, audiencia, historically, in monarchic Spain or its colonies, a court with legislative and executive as well as judicial functions, or the jurisdiction of such a court.

2. Also, audiencia, in modern Spain, the high court of an autonomous community or of a province, or the jurisdiction of such a court.

---

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• Audiencias
  plural

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Audiencia Audiencias

The 2023 decision was appealed before Spain’s high court, known as Audiencia Nacional, and is pending judgment.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 25, 2026

Sidenor's chairman Jose Antonio Jainaga and two other executives are being investigated for alleged smuggling and complicity in crimes against humanity or genocide for selling steel to Israel Military Industries, the Audiencia Nacional court said.

From Barron's ● Oct. 24, 2025

The trial at the country's top criminal court, the Audiencia Nacional, focuses on three investigations into Mr Villarejo's activities and is expected to last until January.

From BBC ● Oct. 13, 2021

Last week the top criminal court, Audiencia Nacional, ordered police to close down Tsunami’s website, app, and social media channels—with little success.

From Slate ● Oct. 29, 2019

With the fine was built the staircase in the Audiencia in the Plaza Nueva.

From Southern Spain by A. F. (Albert Frederick) Calvert

The principal courts of justice were the Audiencias reales, or Royal Audiences.

From Mexico, Aztec, Spanish and Republican Vol. 1 of 2 A Historical, Geographical, Political, Statistical and Social Account of That Country From the Period of the Invasion by the Spaniards to the Present Time; With a View of the Ancient Aztec Empire and Civilization; A Historical Sketch of the Late War; And Notices of New Mexico and California by Brantz Mayer

The governors of the ports, and the presidents of the Audiencias established at Panama, San Domingo, and Gautemala, bought their posts in Spain.

From The Buccaneers in the West Indies in the XVII Century by Clarence Henry Haring

Judicial powers were accorded to the Alcaldes Mayors, to the Captains, Lieutenant Governors, Governors, Captains-General, Audiencias, in some cases to juntas, and even to naval officers.

From The History of Cuba, vol. 3 by Willis Fletcher Johnson

Thus, swelling by cumulative degrees of impressiveness, Trooper Driscoll came at last into the Sala de Audiencias, and gazed with admiration at its beautiful Gobelin suite.

From The Missourian by Eugene P. (Eugene Percy) Lyle

The Audiencias of Panamá and Guatemala.—Alvarado served as governor and captain-general of Guatemala through appointment by Cortés till 1528, when he was commissioned directly by the emperor.

From The Colonization of North America 1492-1783 by Herbert Eugene Bolton