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banc

American  
[bangk] / bæŋk /

noun

Law.
  1. the seat on which judges sit in court.

  2. in banc, with all the judges of a court present; as a full court.

    a hearing in banc.


banc British  
/ bæŋk /

noun

  1. law sitting as a full court

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of banc

1250–1300; Middle English < Old French < Germanic: bench

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The spa petitioned for rehearing en banc, which was denied by the appeals court.

From Slate • Mar. 13, 2026

“We have several options available for next steps, including being able to seek review en banc from the Third Circuit. The status quo remains in place while we continue the legal fight.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 15, 2026

The third example comes from the Fifth Circuit’s 2023 en banc decision in Cargill v.

From Salon • May 19, 2024

Katie Hurrelbrink, an attorney for both men, told the Times she intended to “continue litigating this” by asking for a review by a larger, en banc appellate panel and, if necessary, the U.S.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 18, 2024

He recited to them, till they were word-perfect, a music-hall ditty of the early ’eighties—Sur le bi, sur le banc, sur le bi du bout du banc, and delighted them with dissertations on Mme.

From The Joyous Adventures of Aristide Pujol by Ball, Alec