coram nobis: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very LowFormal, Technical, Archaic
Quick answer
What does “coram nobis” mean?
A rare legal writ (order from a court) used to correct a fundamental error in a previous judgment, where no other remedy is available.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A rare legal writ (order from a court) used to correct a fundamental error in a previous judgment, where no other remedy is available.
An extraordinary remedy in law, rooted in English common law, allowing a court to revisit and correct its own final judgment due to an error of fact (not law) that wasn't known at the time of trial and that would have changed the outcome. It is a plea to the court's conscience.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The writ is largely obsolete in modern UK law, having been replaced by statutory procedures. It retains a vestigial, highly restricted use in some US federal and state jurisdictions (e.g., to challenge a conviction based on newly discovered evidence of a constitutional violation).
Connotations
In both contexts, it connotes an archaic, last-resort legal mechanism. In the US, it may carry a slight connotation of a desperate, long-shot legal maneuver in post-conviction proceedings.
Frequency
Extremely rare in both dialects. Slightly more likely to be encountered in historical US legal texts or specialist criminal procedure discussions than in modern British legal practice.
Grammar
How to Use “coram nobis” in a Sentence
[defendant] filed a petition for a writ of coram nobis.The court granted/applied the writ of coram nobis.Coram nobis is an [adjective] remedy.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “coram nobis” in a Sentence
verb
American English
- The defendant sought to coram nobis the 20-year-old conviction.
adjective
American English
- He filed a coram nobis petition based on newly discovered evidence.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used only in specialized historical or legal academic texts discussing Anglo-American legal procedure.
Everyday
Never used.
Technical
Exclusively used in technical legal writing, specifically in criminal procedure or legal history.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “coram nobis”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “coram nobis”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “coram nobis”
- Using it as a general synonym for 'appeal'.
- Pronouncing 'coram' with a hard 'c' (like 'core'). It's a soft 'c' (like 'coral').
- Treating it as a common, contemporary legal term.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. It is an extremely specialized, archaic legal term of Latin origin. You will only encounter it in historical texts or highly technical legal discussions.
An appeal challenges a legal error based on the known trial record. Coram nobis challenges a factual error that was unknown and could not have been known during the original proceedings.
In very technical US legal jargon, it is sometimes used informally as a verb (e.g., 'to coram nobis a conviction'), but this is non-standard. It is primarily a noun phrase ('a writ of coram nobis').
It remains important in legal history as a precursor to modern post-conviction relief statutes. Its conceptual framework—allowing correction of a manifest injustice—is foundational, even if the specific Latin writ is rarely used.
A rare legal writ (order from a court) used to correct a fundamental error in a previous judgment, where no other remedy is available.
Coram nobis is usually formal, technical, archaic in register.
Coram nobis: in British English it is pronounced /ˌkɒ.rəm ˈnəʊ.bɪs/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌkɔːr.əm ˈnoʊ.bɪs/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a noble (nobis) standing CORAM (before) a king in court, begging for a review of an old case because of a secret fact just discovered.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE LAW AS A LIVING RECORD (a final court record can be corrected, like erasing an error in a ledger). / A LAST DOOR IN THE COURTHOUSE (it represents a final, seldom-used exit).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the term 'coram nobis' most appropriately used?