per curiam
adverb or adjective
per cu·ri·am
(ˌ)pər-ˈkyu̇r-ē-ˌäm 
-ˈku̇r-
: by the court as a whole rather than by a single justice and usually without extended discussion
a per curiam decision
Examples of per curiam in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The per curiam order remanded Comcast’s complaint to the circuit court with instructions to dismiss the claims without prejudice.
—
Robert Goulder, Forbes, 15 Sep. 2024
The clearest explanation for Thursday’s unsigned per curiam opinion can probably be found in a concurring opinion written by Justice Amy Coney Barrett and joined by Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Brett Kavanaugh.
—Ali Martin, The Christian Science Monitor, 27 June 2024
The unsigned, one-sentence per curiam opinion does not resolve the central question in the case: Does a federal law requiring doctors to perform abortions in certain medical emergencies preempt Idaho’s law, which allows a doctor to perform the procedure only to save the life of the mother?
—Ali Martin, The Christian Science Monitor, 27 June 2024
In an unsigned, per curiam opinion, the court returned the case to a lower court for further review in light of the new test.
—Devin Dwyer, ABC News, 15 Mar. 2024
See all Example Sentences for per curiam 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Robert Goulder, Forbes, 15 Sep. 2024
The clearest explanation for Thursday’s unsigned per curiam opinion can probably be found in a concurring opinion written by Justice Amy Coney Barrett and joined by Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Brett Kavanaugh.
—Ali Martin, The Christian Science Monitor, 27 June 2024
The unsigned, one-sentence per curiam opinion does not resolve the central question in the case: Does a federal law requiring doctors to perform abortions in certain medical emergencies preempt Idaho’s law, which allows a doctor to perform the procedure only to save the life of the mother?
—Ali Martin, The Christian Science Monitor, 27 June 2024
In an unsigned, per curiam opinion, the court returned the case to a lower court for further review in light of the new test.
—Devin Dwyer, ABC News, 15 Mar. 2024
See all Example Sentences for per curiam
Dictionary Entries Near per curiam
Cite this Entry
“Per curiam.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/per%20curiam. Accessed 2 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationLegal Definition
per curiam
adverb or adjective
per cu·ri·am
pər-ˈkyu̇r-ē-ˌäm, -ˈku̇r-, -əm
: by the court as a whole rather than by a single justice and usually without extended discussion
a per curiam affirmance
Etymology
Latin, by the court
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share