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circuit court

American  

noun

  1. a court holding sessions at various intervals in different sections of a judicial district.

  2. (initial capital letters) the court of general jurisdiction in a number of U.S. states.


Etymology

Origin of circuit court

An Americanism dating back to 1700–10

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.

See Examples For:

He was initially found guilty and the case was sent to a circuit court, where a second jury declared him innocent.

From The Wall Street Journal Jul. 10, 2026

As part of the settlement agreement, Moderna will appeal to a federal circuit court to argue that it has limited liability as a government contractor.

From Barron's Mar. 4, 2026

Instead, he spent most of his career as a federal prosecutor and as a judge in a Missouri state circuit court.

From Salon Feb. 18, 2026

The agreement needs approval from a circuit court in Missouri as Bayer is still seeking a U.S.

From MarketWatch Feb. 18, 2026

After those arrests, a local circuit court judge, James A. Hare, issued an injunction forbidding public gatherings of more than three people.

From "Because They Marched" by Russell Freedman

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