juror
Americannoun
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one of a group of persons sworn to deliver a verdict in a case submitted to them; member of a jury.
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one of the panel from which a jury is selected.
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one of a group of people who judge a competition.
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a person who has taken an oath or sworn allegiance.
noun
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a member of a jury
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a person whose name is included on a panel from which a jury is selected
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a person who takes an oath
Etymology
Origin of juror
1250–1300; Middle English jurour < Anglo-French (compare Old French jureur ), equivalent to Old French jur ( er ) to swear (< Latin jūrāre ) + -our -or 2
Explanation
Anyone who's a member of a jury in a court of law is called a juror. When you serve as a juror, you're part of a group that hears evidence in a trial and gives a verdict. When someone gets called for jury duty, it's an opportunity to be a juror for a trial. A juror is typically one of twelve people who swear to make an impartial, unbiased decision based on legal evidence. The jurors must come to a unanimous agreement about their verdict after all evidence is presented, generally either "guilty" or "not guilty." The Latin root is iuratorem, or "swearer," from iurare, "to swear."
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 jury that convicted him included one Black juror.
From Slate • Apr. 10, 2026
In an interview after the verdict was read, one juror said Zuckerberg’s answers came across as inconsistent and “didn’t sit well” with the jury.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 29, 2026
One alternate juror wept openly during the testimony in Los Angeles County Superior Court, wiping her tears on her sweater.
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 27, 2026
The matter came to light when another juror reported the WhatsApp group to court officials, and an investigation was launched.
From BBC • Jan. 23, 2026
Right? 8th juror: AS far as I know, we’re supposed to decide whether or not the boy on trial is guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
From "Twelve Angry Men" by Reginald Rose
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.
