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.

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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

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verb

1. (tr) to try by court martial

Etymology

Origin of court-martial

First recorded in 1565–75; earlier martial court

Example Sentences

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

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

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

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

“The court-martial has decided and that’s the end of it.”

From "My Brother Sam is Dead" by James Lincoln Collier and Christopher Collier

Related Words

• military court