change of venue: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, Legal, Professional
Quick answer
What does “change of venue” mean?
The legal process of moving a trial or hearing from one court location to another.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The legal process of moving a trial or hearing from one court location to another.
In broader usage, the act of moving an event, meeting, or activity to a different location than originally planned.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In the UK, the term is almost exclusively legal. In the US, it is more commonly heard in media reporting on trials and is also used in non-legal contexts like corporate events.
Connotations
In both, legal usage carries connotations of seeking a fair trial, often due to pre-trial publicity or local bias.
Frequency
Higher frequency in American English due to greater media coverage of legal proceedings and wider metaphorical application.
Grammar
How to Use “change of venue” in a Sentence
The defence requested a change of venue.The judge granted a change of venue from X to Y.A change of venue was sought due to publicity.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “change of venue” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The barrister applied to change the venue of the trial.
- They are seeking to have the venue changed.
American English
- The defense attorney moved to change the venue.
- The judge agreed to change the venue for the high-profile case.
adjective
British English
- The change-of-venue request was filed yesterday.
- A change-of-venue order was issued by the Crown Court.
American English
- The change-of-venue motion was denied.
- They cited change-of-venue precedents in their filing.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
"After the merger, the board meeting required a last-minute change of venue to accommodate all directors."
Academic
"The study's data collection underwent a change of venue when the original site became unavailable."
Everyday
"Due to the weather, our picnic has had a change of venue to the community centre." (less common, but possible)
Technical
"The defence filed a Rule 21 motion for a change of venue, arguing the defendant could not receive a fair trial in the county."
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “change of venue”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “change of venue”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “change of venue”
- Using it to mean a simple schedule change (it's specifically about location).
- Writing 'change in venue' (the standard preposition is 'of').
- Using it informally where 'change of location' or 'relocation' would be more natural.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, but that is its primary and most precise meaning. It can be used metaphorically or formally for other events (conferences, meetings), though 'change of location' is often more natural in non-legal contexts.
Typically, the defence or the prosecution can file a motion requesting a change of venue. The judge then rules on the motion based on arguments presented, such as extensive pre-trial publicity or local prejudice.
'Venue' implies a predetermined, often formal or official site for a specific event (court, concert, conference). 'Location' is a more general geographical term. In law, 'venue' is a precise term referring to the specific court or district where a case is tried.
While sometimes heard, the standard and predominant collocation is 'change of venue'. 'Change in venue' is considered a less common variant.
The legal process of moving a trial or hearing from one court location to another.
Change of venue is usually formal, legal, professional in register.
Change of venue: in British English it is pronounced /tʃeɪndʒ əv ˈvɛnjuː/, and in American English it is pronounced /tʃeɪndʒ əv ˈvɛnjuː/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Move the goalposts (metaphorically similar in the sense of changing the rules/location)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a VENUE as a place for an event. A CHANGE OF VENUE is simply changing that place. It's most famous in court dramas.
Conceptual Metaphor
JUSTICE IS A PLACE (The location of a trial can metaphorically affect the quality of justice administered).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'change of venue' used most precisely and technically?