pretrial

adjective

pre·​tri·​al ˌprē-ˈtrī(-ə)l How to pronounce pretrial (audio)
variants or pre-trial
: occurring or existing before a trial
a pretrial hearing

Examples of pretrial in a Sentence

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Hellerstein agreed to a joint request from prosecutors and defense attorneys to delay the trial by two weeks, giving both sides additional time to prepare and file pretrial motions. — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 15 Oct. 2026 After four years of pretrial action, the Hawaii class action case was scheduled for a jury trial in July 2026 in Honolulu. — Monika Evstatieva, NPR, 14 Oct. 2026 That's according to notes placed in the Lenawee County 39th Circuit Court docket on Wednesday after attorneys met with the judge for a pretrial conference on the charges against John Skelton. — Paula Wethington, CBS News, 14 Oct. 2026 Four men have since been charged, including two who remain in pretrial detention, according to Le Figaro, citing Agence France-Presse. — Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 13 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for pretrial

Word History

First Known Use

1894, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of pretrial was in 1894

Rhymes for pretrial

See All Rhymes for pretrial

Browse Nearby Words

pretreatment
pretrial
pretrimmed
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Cite this Entry

“Pretrial.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pretrial. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Legal Definition

pretrial

adjective
pre·​tri·​al
ˌprē-ˈtrī-əl
: existing or occurring before trial
a pretrial motion
a pretrial detainee
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