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Synonyms

court-martial

American  
[kawrt-mahr-shuhl, -mahr-, kohrt-] / ˈkɔrtˌmɑr ʃəl, -ˈmɑr-, ˈkoʊrt- /

noun

plural

courts-martial, court-martials

  1. a court consisting of military or naval personnel appointed by a commander to try charges of offenses by soldiers, sailors, etc., against military or naval law.

  2. a trial by such a court.

  3. a conviction by such a court.

    He lost his privileges because of his court-martial.

  4. a session of such a court.

    He attended the court-martial this morning.

verb (used with object)

court-martialed, court-martialing, court-martialled, court-martialling

  1. to arraign and try by court-martial.

court martial British  

noun

  1. a military court that tries persons subject to military law

"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

verb

  1. (tr) to try by court martial

"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 court-martial

First recorded in 1565–75; earlier martial court

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.

In 2021, a court-martial dismissed Villamide for negligence and sentenced other officers to up to 45 days in jail for concealing information.

From Barron's • Mar. 3, 2026

All of this may be of little practical concern since the chances of your ever actually facing a court-martial for obeying these particular unlawful orders are slim to zero.

From Slate • Nov. 24, 2025

“For them to essentially threaten an investigation or court-martial is highly, highly unusual,” Nevitt said.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 24, 2025

The Pentagon said on Monday that further action may be taken against Kelly, including a recall to active duty for court-martial or administrative measures.

From BBC • Nov. 24, 2025

Jackson is outraged, orders a court-martial which never convenes.

From "The Killer Angels: The Classic Novel of the Civil War" by Michael Shaara

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.