voir dire
Americannoun
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an oath administered to a proposed witness or juror by which they are sworn to speak the truth in an examination to ascertain their competence to serve.
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the examination of a proposed witness or juror to ascertain their competence to serve.
noun
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the preliminary examination on oath of a proposed witness by the judge
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the oath administered to such a witness
Etymology
Origin of voir dire
First recorded in 1670–80; from Anglo-French, equivalent to Old French voir “true, truly” + dire “to say”
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.
Lawyers typically do not pose such whimsical questions during voir dire - the process by which potential jurors are screened - but then, the man who submitted it isn't a lawyer.
From BBC • Sep. 8, 2025
If there's actual evidence that they lied during the voir dire process of jury selection, that could be grounds for a motion to strike the juror.
From Salon • Apr. 23, 2024
Still, during voir dire this week, prosecutors and the defense have given some hints about what their opening statements and subsequent arguments will be.
From New York Times • Apr. 18, 2024
Then prospective jurors are summoned to court, where a judge presides over voir dire, a formal screening process meant to assess jurors’ suitability to serve on a jury pool.
From Slate • Sep. 17, 2023
The defendants were inattentive observers of the voir dire pro-ceedings.
From "In Cold Blood" by Truman Capote
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.
