noun

mistrial

/mɪsˈtraɪəl/ · say it: mis·TRY·uhl

a trial invalidated by a fundamental error

In more detail

a trial that is declared invalid by a court, usually because of a serious error in the legal process that makes a fair verdict impossible

Examples

The judge declared a mistrial after it was discovered that a juror had been communicating with the defendant's family.

How to use mistrial

Mistrial is a formal legal term used when a court invalidates a trial before a verdict is reached or upheld, typically due to procedural errors, jury misconduct, or prejudicial events. It differs from an acquittal or conviction in that it leaves the charges against the defendant unresolved, and the defendant may be retried. This term appears in legal documents, court proceedings, and legal journalism.

Common phrases

declare a mistrial
motion for a mistrial
result in a mistrial
grounds for a mistrial
mistrial declared

Synonyms

voided trial · aborted trial · nullified trial · invalid trial

Word family

mistrial (noun) · mistrials (plural)

A common mistake

Learners sometimes confuse mistrial with a wrongful conviction or failed prosecution, but a mistrial specifically means the trial itself was procedurally flawed and nullified, not that the verdict was necessarily wrong.

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