by reason of

Idioms  

1. Because of, owing to, as in By reason of a crop failure, the price of coffee is bound to rise. This expression is considered quite formal today. [c. 1300]

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

by reason of

Eleven jurors were in favor of finding Clancy not guilty by reason of insanity, but they were opposed by a single holdout who has spoken publicly about being sure of her guilt.

From Barron's ● Sep. 29, 2026

The jury forewoman, a retired fifth-grade teacher, said in an interview with NBC that Desronvil had admitted he had reasonable doubt, but refused to find Clancy not guilty by reason of insanity.

From BBC ● Sep. 22, 2026

The jury could have acquited her by reason of insanity, which would then send her to a mental institution, the duration of her stay determined by doctors.

From Slate ● Sep. 5, 2026

“Two independent doctors evaluated Hoetzlein and each concluded he met the legal criteria for a finding of not guilty by reason of insanity,” Ventura County Dist.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 17, 2026

Prior to the trial, at which Andrews pleaded innocent by reason of insanity, the psychiatric staff of the Menninger Clinic conducted an exhaustive examination of the accused; this produced a diagnosis of “schizophrenia, simple type.”

From "In Cold Blood" by Truman Capote

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