grand jury

American  

noun

1. a jury, at common law, of 12 to 23 persons, designated to inquire into alleged violations of the law in order to ascertain whether the evidence is sufficient to warrant trial.

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grand jury British  

noun

1. law (esp in the US and, now rarely, in Canada) a jury of between 12 and 23 persons summoned to inquire into accusations of crime and ascertain whether the evidence is adequate to found an indictment. Abolished in Britain in 1948 Compare petit jury

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grand jury Cultural  

1. A jury that decides whether the evidence warrants bringing an accused person to trial. Once indicted (see indictment) by a grand jury, a person must stand trial.

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Etymology

Origin of grand jury

First recorded in 1490–1500, grand jury is from Anglo-French graund juree

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

grand jury

There’s been finger-pointing, litigation and a grand jury probe into how a $1.9-billion choo-choo has become a $3.3-billion boondoggle.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 21, 2026

But an independent grand jury report previously found that it was the contractor, not the airport, that was largely to blame for the problems.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 19, 2026

Authorities have also issued more than a dozen grand jury subpoenas, including to her relatives.

From Salon ● Oct. 17, 2026

Marshals to remove the women from the grand jury room if they showed up there.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 10, 2026

All these people though, and none of them can go in the grand jury room with me.

From "The Hate U Give" by Angie Thomas

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