district court

American  

noun

U.S. Law.

1. (in many states) the court of general jurisdiction.

2. the federal trial court sitting in each district of the United States.

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district court British  

noun

1. (in Scotland) a court of summary jurisdiction held by a stipendiary magistrate or one or more justices of the peace to deal with minor criminal offences

2. 1. a federal trial court serving a federal judicial district

   2. (in some states) a court having general jurisdiction in a state judicial district

3. Former name: magistrates' court.  (in Australia and New Zealand) a court lower than a high court

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Etymology

Origin of district court

An Americanism dating back to 1780–90

Example Sentences

When the district court ruled two years ago on the 1868 law, the judge also said that the ban on home distilling couldn’t be saved by the Commerce Clause.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 20, 2026

For the moment, a Louisiana district court was willing to grant the latter request.

From Slate • Apr. 13, 2026

A D.C. district court blocked the provision requiring documentary proof of citizenship in October.

From Salon • Apr. 1, 2026

The trial at Oslo district court has lasted almost seven weeks and every day of evidence has been front-page news in Norway.

From BBC • Mar. 18, 2026

The driver’s grandfather had recently retired as a district court judge, which gave the accident an extra public layer.

From "A Deadly Wandering: A Mystery, a Landmark Investigation, and the Astonishing Science of Attention in the Digital Age" by Matt Richtel