noun

cross-examination

questioning the other side's witness at trial

In more detail

1. (noun) the questioning of a witness in court by the lawyer of the other side, in order to test the truth of what the witness has said

2. (noun) any close or critical questioning of a person about what they have said

Examples

1. During cross-examination, the defence lawyer asked the witness detailed questions to challenge her story.
2. The journalist subjected the politician to a tough cross-examination about the budget cuts.

How to use cross-examination

Cross-examination originally denotes the legal procedure in which opposing counsel questions a witness to challenge testimony, but it is also used more broadly for any intense, skeptical questioning designed to verify or challenge claims. It implies a formal, adversarial context and suggests scrutiny rather than casual inquiry.

Common phrases

undergo cross-examination
face cross-examination
subject to cross-examination
withstand cross-examination
rigorous cross-examination

Synonyms

interrogation · questioning · grilling · cross-questioning

Word family

cross-examine (verb) · cross-examiner (noun)

A common mistake

Learners sometimes use it simply to mean 'discussion' or 'conversation,' forgetting that it carries the connotation of adversarial or critical questioning, not neutral exchange.

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