pretrial

American  

[pree-trahy-uhl, -trahyl] / priˈtraɪ əl, -ˈtraɪl /

noun

1. a proceeding held by a judge, arbitrator, etc., before a trial to simplify the issues of law and fact and stipulate certain matters between the parties, in order to expedite justice and curtail costs at the trial.

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adjective

1. of or relating to such a proceeding.

2. done, occurring, etc., prior to a trial.

   pretrial publicity.

Etymology

Origin of pretrial

First recorded in 1935–40; pre- + trial

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

pretrial

A pretrial hearing is set for 19 October.

From BBC ● Aug. 31, 2026

Yet eight months after that, the judge in his rape case issued a pretrial ruling in which she ordered prosecutors to honor the defendant’s “preferred pronouns.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 24, 2026

Instead, the pretrial this month resurfaced the schisms.

From Slate ● Jul. 21, 2026

A pretrial hearing is scheduled for July 29.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 24, 2026

Pearson stood up and said that due to the extraordinary pretrial coverage of the Morrison murder, he agreed that the trial should be moved.

From "Just Mercy" by Bryan Stevenson