grand jury

noun

: a jury that examines accusations against persons charged with crime and if the evidence warrants makes formal charges (as by indictment)
grand juror noun

Examples of grand jury in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Shifting claims For months, federal prosecutors have been issuing grand jury subpoenas for voter records in California — suggesting a sweeping criminal investigation was underway. — Kevin Rector, Los Angeles Times, 19 Oct. 2026 The Republican Party of Florida is suing the state Democratic Party, candidate for governor David Jolly and other politicians to stop a television ad that mentions a grand jury’s findings about Hope Florida. — Justin Garcia, Miami Herald, 19 Oct. 2026 Federal authorities seized Omar's phone in the search and have issued more than a dozen grand jury subpoenas, including to some of her relatives, a person briefed on the probe told the AP this week. — Arkansas Online, 18 Oct. 2026 On Wednesday, a Union County grand jury indicted Vincent Battiloro, 18, of Garwood, on two counts of first-degree murder in the teen girls’ deaths. — Leigh Egan, FOXNews.com, 18 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for grand jury

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of grand jury was in the 15th century

Rhymes for grand jury

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Browse Nearby Words

Grand Junction
grand jury
grandkid
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Cite this Entry

“Grand jury.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/grand%20jury. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

grand jury

noun
: a jury that chiefly examines accusations of crime made against persons and if the evidence warrants makes formal charges on which the accused persons are later tried

Legal Definition

grand jury

noun
: a jury that examines accusations against persons charged with crime and if the evidence warrants makes formal charges on which the accused persons are later tried see also no bill and true bill at bill sense 3b, indictment compare petit jury, special grand jury

More from Merriam-Webster on grand jury

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about grand jury

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