subpoena

American  

[suh-pee-nuh, suhb-] / səˈpi nə, səb- /

Or subpena

noun

1. the usual writ for the summoning of witnesses or the submission of evidence, as records or documents, before a court or other deliberative body.

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verb (used with object)

subpoenaed, subpoenaing

1. to serve with a subpoena.

subpoena British  

/ səbˈpiːnə, səˈpiːnə /

noun

1. a writ issued by a court of justice requiring a person to appear before the court at a specified time

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verb

1. (tr) to serve with a subpoena

subpoena Cultural  

1. An order of a court, a legislature, or a grand jury compelling a witness to be present at a trial or hearing, under penalty of fine or imprisonment. Subpoena is Latin for “under penalty.”

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Etymology

Origin of subpoena

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English, from Latin sub poenā “under penalty” (the first words of the writ)

Explanation

A subpoena is a document that requires its recipient to appear in court as a witness. If you receive a subpoena, it doesn't mean you've done anything wrong; it just means you may have information that's needed by the court. Subpoena can also be a verb: You can subpoena someone by giving them a subpoena. If you receive a subpoena but fail to carry out its instructions, you're in big trouble. This fact is suggested by the Latin roots of this word: the prefix sub- means "under" and poena means "penalty." One nice thing about a subpoena is that it's not a summons; if you get one of those, it means you're being sued.

Example Sentences

What she’s targeting is the lawless underlying subpoena, saying it was unenforceable to begin with.

From Slate • May 18, 2026

But here’s the jujitsu move: McElroy then neutralized O’Connor’s order to enforce the subpoena by nullifying the subpoena itself, because the DOJ had failed to identify any possible law-breaking by the hospital.

From Slate • May 18, 2026

Judiciary sent the subpoena after Mr. Worthington’s lawyer said his client wouldn’t voluntarily appear for a transcribed interview, according to a letter to Mr. Worthington from committee Chairman Jim Jordan and subcommittee Chair Darrell Issa.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 15, 2026

Shew said Estelle reached out shortly after he received the CBP’s subpoena.

From Salon • May 14, 2026

The discs contained records from Verizon Wireless, the results of the subpoena.

From "A Deadly Wandering: A Mystery, a Landmark Investigation, and the Astonishing Science of Attention in the Digital Age" by Matt Richtel

Related Words

• decree
• mandate
• summons
• warrant