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 wayThe controversial case has put the entire health care system on trial.
Examples of on trial in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Based on the novel of the same name by Scott Turow (which was previously adapted into a 1990 film with Harrison Ford), Presumed Innocent stars Jake Gyllenhaal as Rusty Sabich, a prosecutor who ends up on trial himself after his mistress is murdered.
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Christian Holub, EW.com, 5 Aug. 2024
While on trial, Owens killed an inmate at a county jail.
—CBS News, 20 Sep. 2024
Haley is on trial along with Justin Smith and Tadarrius Bean, who were charged on Sept. 12, 2023, with violating Nichols' civil rights through excessive use of force, unlawful assault, failing to intervene in the assault and failing to render medical aid.
—Tesfaye Negussie, ABC News, 19 Sep. 2024
Five former officers were charged, including Bean, Haley and Smith who are now on trial and have pleaded not guilty, as well as Desmond Mills Jr. and Emmitt Martin III, who have pleaded guilty to some of the federal charges.
—Kiara Alfonseca, ABC News, 9 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for on trial 
Christian Holub, EW.com, 5 Aug. 2024
While on trial, Owens killed an inmate at a county jail.
—CBS News, 20 Sep. 2024
Haley is on trial along with Justin Smith and Tadarrius Bean, who were charged on Sept. 12, 2023, with violating Nichols' civil rights through excessive use of force, unlawful assault, failing to intervene in the assault and failing to render medical aid.
—Tesfaye Negussie, ABC News, 19 Sep. 2024
Five former officers were charged, including Bean, Haley and Smith who are now on trial and have pleaded not guilty, as well as Desmond Mills Jr. and Emmitt Martin III, who have pleaded guilty to some of the federal charges.
—Kiara Alfonseca, ABC News, 9 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for on trial
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'on trial.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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“On trial.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/on%20trial. Accessed 2 Oct. 2024.
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