witness-box
noun
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witness-box
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witness box
witness boxnounthe place in a court of law in which witnesses stand to give evidence
witness-box
American
[wit-nis-boks]
/ ˈwɪt nɪsˌbɒks /
noun
Chiefly British.
witness box
British
noun
Etymology
Origin of witness-box
First recorded in 1800–10
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:
Every character is part of a carefully arranged witness-box cast, and the arrangement is too deliberate ly designed to give both sides of the story.
From Time Magazine Archive
His handling of his client in the witness-box had been masterly.
From "And Then There Were None" by Agatha Christie
A bit late now, I think, but only because he’s down there and I’m up here, in the safety of the witness-box.
From "I Am the Messenger" by Markus Zusak
He made some astonishing admissions in the witness-box and even disgusted many of his friends by the flippancy and affected unconcern of his replies to questions of the most damaging nature.
From The Trial of Oscar Wilde From the Shorthand Reports by Anonymous
Oh, yes, I would, and I would put you into the witness-box, too.
From The Turnstile by A. E. W. (Alfred Edward Woodley) Mason
In recent years, Harry has sued three different UK newspapers, becoming the first senior royal in over a century to enter the witness box as he won settlements from two.
From Barron's ● Aug. 23, 2026
More than 40 of its journalists defended themselves in the witness box for the case, the paper says, which saw all allegations "rejected" by the judges.
From BBC ● Jul. 8, 2026
Actor Liz Hurley on Thursday broke down in tears in the witness box of London's High Court as she accused a tabloid publisher of "monstrous" conduct including planting secret microphones on her home windows.
From Barron's ● Jan. 22, 2026
Although Prince Harry was in the "witness box", it really meant he was sitting in a kind of raised wooden area, behind a computer screen and an array of microphones.
From BBC ● Jan. 21, 2026
Alvin Hooks stood and strolled casually to the witness box with his hands deep in his trousers pockets.
From "Snow Falling on Cedars: A Novel" by David Guterson
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.
