test case

American  

noun

1. a typical case whose court decision may be interpreted as a precedent for application in future similar cases.

2. a legal action taken, sometimes deliberately by agreement of both parties, with a special view to determining the position of the law on some matter, as the constitutionality of a statute.

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test case British  

noun

1. a legal action that serves as a precedent in deciding similar succeeding cases

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Etymology

Origin of test case

First recorded in 1890–95

Example Sentences

Kaley’s test case was chosen from among scores of suits currently consolidated in California state court.

From Los Angeles Times

The 2016 referendum was viewed as a national test case after census data showed around a quarter of local properties were second homes.

From BBC

The ruling amounted to a test case of South Carolina’s law.

From The Wall Street Journal

This was the first of two test cases, the second involving an unnamed 52‑year‑old man on 4 March, also in Gibraltar.

From BBC

With hundreds of cases before the court, she zeroed in on one test case to govern them all.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• precedent