certiorari

[ sur-shee-uh-rair-ahy, -rair-ee ]

/ ˌsɜr ʃi əˈrɛər aɪ, -ˈrɛər i /

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noun Law.

a writ issuing from a superior court calling up the record of a proceeding in an inferior court for review.

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Also called writ of certiorari.

Origin of certiorari

First recorded in 1515–25; from Latin: “to be informed, certified,” literally, “made surer,” passive infinitive of certiōrāre “to inform,” verbal derivative of certior, comparative of certus “sure”; so called because the passive infinitive form occurred in the Latin original; see certain

Words nearby certiorari

certified mail, certified milk, certified professional secretary, certified public accountant, certify, certiorari, certitude, certosina, cerulean, cerulean blue, cerulean warbler

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use certiorari in a sentence

Although the vote of individual justices isn’t listed, the denial of certiorari means there wasn’t at least three justices who would agree to take up the case when the issue came up in conference.
Supreme Court OKs making video records of Prop 8 trial open to public|Chris Johnson|October 11, 2022|Washington Blade
This month, LaPorta filed a petition for certiorari to the Supreme Court, asking the justices to reinstate the verdict.
Before off-duty police shooting, Chicago officer had long complaint record. Should the city pay?|Robert Klemko|September 22, 2021|Washington Post
It takes a vote of four justices to grant a writ of certiorari, or agree to take up a case.
Va. school seeks Supreme Court review in continued fight against Gavin Grimm|Chris Johnson|February 19, 2021|Washington Blade
The obvious resource, therefore, was to obtain a writ of certiorari removing our indictment to the superior court.
Reminiscences of Charles Bradlaugh|George W. Foote

He was compelled to surrender possession without the formality of a mandamus, quo warranto certiorari or appeal.
Sages and Heroes of the American Revolution|L. Carroll Judson
Under certain conditions, if the defendant's hardship could be definitely shown, a writ of certiorari and supersedeas might issue.
The Grafters|Francis Lynde
An appeal from the jurisdiction of the courts lies by way of certiorari.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 3, Part 1, Slice 3|Various
Certiorari—To order the record from an inferior to a superior court.
Dictionary of Quotations from Ancient and Modern, English and Foreign Sources|James Wood

British Dictionary definitions for certiorari

certiorari

/ (ˌsɜːtɪɔːˈrɛəraɪ) /

noun

law an order of a superior court directing that a record of proceedings in a lower court be sent up for reviewSee also mandamus, prohibition

Word Origin for certiorari

C15: from legal Latin: to be informed

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