district court
Americannoun
-
(in many states) the court of general jurisdiction.
-
the federal trial court sitting in each district of the United States.
noun
-
(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
-
-
a federal trial court serving a federal judicial district
-
(in some states) a court having general jurisdiction in a state judicial district
-
-
Former name: magistrates' court. (in Australia and New Zealand) a court lower than a high court
Etymology
Origin of district court
An Americanism dating back to 1780–90
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The district court disagreed with Mississippi, holding that private citizens could bring these suits, and it found a VRA violation.
From Slate • May 19, 2026
The construction-equipment complaint is filed in the same northern Illinois district court as the farm-equipment case.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 15, 2026
Cole Allen, 31, entered the not guilty plea during an appearance before Judge Trevor McFadden in a federal district court in the nation's capital.
From Barron's • May 11, 2026
Judges at a district court in Hanover ruled in his favour, and said the family of four were entitled to a larger refund on their package holiday as it had been "defective".
From BBC • May 6, 2026
The court remanded the case back to the district court for resentencing.
From "The New Jim Crow" by Michelle Alexander
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.
