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

See Examples For:

district court

A district court ordered a halt to work on the aboveground ballroom while allowing construction of the underground military bunker to proceed, but that order had been stayed while on appeal.

From Barron's ● Aug. 21, 2026

The claims are ultimately decided by one of a number of district court judges, whose approach to this issue may vary.

From Salon ● Aug. 10, 2026

Those district court battles have grown increasingly heated as caseloads have swelled.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 31, 2026

Then, in April, the court said: Now that we have the full case before us, we’re going to summarily reverse the district court for the reasons set forth in our five-paragraph scribble from December.

From Slate ● Jul. 13, 2026

The court remanded the case back to the district court for resentencing.

From "The New Jim Crow" by Michelle Alexander