mistrial
noun
mis·tri·al
ˈmis-ˌtrī(-ə)l 
: a trial that has no legal effect with regard to one or more of the charges brought against the defendant because of some serious error or prejudicial misconduct in the proceedings or a hung jury
Examples of mistrial in a Sentence
The judge declared a mistrial.
Recent Examples on the Web
She was tried on those charges last year, but the case ended in mistrial because of a hung jury.
—
Flint McColgan, Boston Herald, 4 Mar. 2025
Their first trial ended in a mistrial, when jurors couldn't agree on their fate.
—Stepheny Price, Fox News, 26 Feb. 2025
His first trial on murder charges ended in a mistrial and at his second he was acquitted of murder charges but convicted of gun possession and sentenced to nine years.
—John Annese, New York Daily News, 23 Feb. 2025
Wiley instructed the jury to continue deliberations on Friday and denied a request by Penny's defense attorneys to declare a mistrial.
—Paul Du Quenoy, Newsweek, 9 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for mistrial
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Flint McColgan, Boston Herald, 4 Mar. 2025
Their first trial ended in a mistrial, when jurors couldn't agree on their fate.
—Stepheny Price, Fox News, 26 Feb. 2025
His first trial on murder charges ended in a mistrial and at his second he was acquitted of murder charges but convicted of gun possession and sentenced to nine years.
—John Annese, New York Daily News, 23 Feb. 2025
Wiley instructed the jury to continue deliberations on Friday and denied a request by Penny's defense attorneys to declare a mistrial.
—Paul Du Quenoy, Newsweek, 9 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for mistrial
Cite this Entry
“Mistrial.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mistrial. Accessed 13 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
mistrial
noun
mis·tri·al
ˈmis-ˌtrī(-ə)l
: a trial that is cancelled because of an error in the proceedings
Legal Definition
mistrial
noun
mis·tri·al
ˈmis-ˌtrī-əl
: a trial that terminates without a verdict because of error, necessity, prejudicial misconduct, or a hung jury see also manifest necessity compare dismissal sense 2, trial de novo
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