on trial

idiom

: in a situation in which evidence against one is presented in a court to a judge and often a jury to decide if one is guilty of a crime
on trial for murder
She went on trial for possession of drugs.
sometimes used figuratively to indicate that people will think about something in a critical way
The controversial case has put the entire health care system on trial.

Examples of on trial in a Sentence

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Putting Cheney on trial could make her into a hero and Trump the villain. Benedict Cosgrove, Newsweek, 20 Dec. 2024 Donald Trump was resurgent, on trial, stewing about losing the last election and looking to mix things up again. Evan Clark, WWD, 16 Dec. 2024 The First Gentleman follows the United States’ first female president, whose husband is on trial for murder. Carly Tagen-Dye, People.com, 11 Dec. 2024 Netanyahu is on trial at home on accusations of fraud, breach of trust and accepting bribes in three separate matters. Tia Goldenberg, Los Angeles Times, 9 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for on trial 

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Cite this Entry

“On trial.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/on%20trial. Accessed 2 Jan. 2025.

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