crown court: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1formal, legal
Quick answer
What does “crown court” mean?
A court in England and Wales that deals with serious criminal cases.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A court in England and Wales that deals with serious criminal cases.
A specific level of court in the UK judicial system where trials for indictable offences (more serious crimes) are held before a judge and, for many cases, a jury. It is distinct from magistrates' courts, which handle less serious matters.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is specific to the UK legal system. The closest US equivalents would be 'federal district court' (for federal serious crimes) or 'state superior/trial court' (for state-level serious crimes), but these are not direct synonyms as the systems are fundamentally different.
Connotations
In the UK, it carries the connotation of gravity, formality, and the serious nature of the proceedings. In the US, the term is not used and would be understood only in the context of discussing British law.
Frequency
High frequency in UK legal, news, and political discourse. Very low to zero frequency in general American English.
Grammar
How to Use “crown court” in a Sentence
The case was heard in [the/a] crown court.He was sent to [the] crown court for trial.The crown court [verb, e.g., sentenced, acquitted, heard] the defendant.Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in contexts like legal services, compliance, or news affecting a company.
Academic
Used in law, criminology, and political science studies focusing on the British legal system.
Everyday
Used in news reports about crime and trials in the UK.
Technical
A precise term in UK legal jargon denoting a specific court tier with defined jurisdiction and procedures.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “crown court”
Strong
Neutral
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “crown court”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “crown court”
- Using 'crown court' as a verb (e.g., 'He was crown courted').
- Using it to refer to any royal or ceremonial court.
- Capitalisation inconsistency: 'Crown Court' is often capitalised when referring to the system as a proper noun, but 'a crown court' in lower case is also acceptable.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. The Crown Court is a trial court for serious criminal cases. The Supreme Court is the highest appellate court in the UK for both civil and criminal cases from all jurisdictions.
Yes, for most trials on indictment (serious offences), the case is heard before a judge and a jury of 12 members of the public.
Yes, appeals against conviction or sentence from the Crown Court are heard by the Court of Appeal (Criminal Division).
Being 'sent to' crown court usually means a magistrates' court has decided a case is too serious for them to handle, so it goes to the Crown Court for a full trial. 'Appealing to' the Crown Court is when a defendant convicted in a magistrates' court challenges the conviction or sentence.
A court in England and Wales that deals with serious criminal cases.
Crown court is usually formal, legal in register.
Crown court: in British English it is pronounced /ˌkraʊn ˈkɔːt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌkraʊn ˈkɔːrt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the 'Crown' representing the state (as in Crown Prosecution Service) and 'Court' as the place of trial. Together, they form the state's court for serious crimes.
Conceptual Metaphor
The crown court is a FILTER or GATEWAY in the justice system, receiving serious cases from lower courts.
Practice
Quiz
In which country's legal system is the term 'crown court' primarily used?