court-martial

[kawrt-mahr-shuhl, -mahr-, kohrt-]

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

noun

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

verb

1. (tr) to try by court martial

Word History and Origins

Origin of court martial¹

First recorded in 1565–75; earlier martial court

Example Sentences

I was one of a only a handful of human rights attorneys to attend her court-martial and sentencing.

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A question for the future: The Mitchell court-martial was an act of small-minded pettiness that must be seen for what it was: an exercise in grand theater.

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At his court-martial, Calley’s attorney echoed the defense of top Nazis at their trials in Nuremberg following World War II: He was only following orders.

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The piece opens on the court-martial of a brutal sergeant who was Private Chen’s chief antagonist.

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The case could then move to a court-martial, if it’s determined that there’s sufficient evidence of the charges.

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Related Words

• military court www.thesaurus.com