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police court

American  

noun

  1. an inferior court with summary jurisdiction for the trial of persons accused of any of certain minor offenses, and with power to examine those charged with more serious offenses and hold them for trial in a superior court or for a grand jury.


police court British  

noun

  1. another name for magistrates' court

  2. (in Scotland, formerly) a burgh court with limited jurisdiction, presided over by lay magistrates or a stipendiary magistrate: replaced in 1975 by the district court See also district court

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of police court

First recorded in 1815–25

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.

See Examples For:

Everyone - press, police, court staff, and likely the parties involved - are prepared for an intense week ahead.

From BBC May 20, 2024

She followed him and called Vancouver police, court records state.

From Seattle Times Nov. 30, 2022

The chivalrous Reynolds followed them to police court and paid the fine that was by rights Anderson’s.

From Los Angeles Times Nov. 8, 2022

The Post unsuccessfully attempted to reach several family members, and the available information about him is limited to what can be gleaned from police, court and probation records.

From Washington Post May 13, 2016

As things stand to-day a council of city men are not likely to advance salaries where their police court is losing money.

From The Law and the Poor by Edward Abbott Parry

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