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.
In March, the FBI used a federal grand jury subpoena to obtain records from the Arizona Senate’s 2021 review of Maricopa County’s 2020 election. — Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 5 Sep. 2026 The state attorney empaneled the grand jury on the same day the office indicted a family member for the first-degree murder of a child. — Romy Ellenbogen Herald, Miami Herald, 4 Sep. 2026 He was indicted by a grand jury on March 7, 2025, on 14 counts. — Taylor Seely, AZCentral.com, 3 Sep. 2026 The prosecutor, Matthew Evans, was fired on Thursday and is now under investigation for alleged obstruction of a grand jury probe, the person said. — Alanna Durkin Richer, Los Angeles Times, 3 Sep. 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

See All Rhymes for grand jury

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 6 Sep. 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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