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.
a trial by such a court.
a conviction by such a court.
He lost his privileges because of his court-martial.
a session of such a court.
He attended the court-martial this morning.
First recorded in 1565–75; earlier martial court
A court-martial is a special legal trial for members of the military. When someone in the armed forces is accused of a crime, they are usually subject to court-martial. Court-martial is the official name of a military court, or for a trial within that kind of court. Active military members are subject to a separate set of laws from civilians, and part of that military legal process involves facing a judge in a court-martial. Criminal offenses like theft and assault are tried this way, as are military-specific crimes like desertion. Martial means "pertaining to war."
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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
However, a court-martial would require a trial in a military court, with the prosecutors presenting evidence of criminality.
From Slate • Jan. 13, 2026
If an order is legally ambiguous, a service member will only find out whether it was lawful to disobey at a court-martial, where a military judge decides.
From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 27, 2025
On Monday, the Department of Defense announced a probe into Kelly, saying the congressman could be recalled to face a court-martial.
From Salon • Nov. 24, 2025
If they made it home safely, there would be no need for court-martial.
From "Code Name Verity" by Elizabeth Wein
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.
