empanel
C2Formal, Legal, Official
Definition
Meaning
To select and enlist people to serve on a jury.
To formally select and enlist a group of people (e.g., experts, panelists) for a specific task, duty, or committee, especially in a legal or official context.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The verb is related to the noun 'panel'. It denotes the formal, administrative act of creating a jury or committee. Often used in legal or parliamentary contexts.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Spelling: In UK usage, 'empanel' and 'impanel' are both found, with 'empanel' being more common. In US usage, 'empanel' is standard, though 'impanel' is also an accepted variant. The process and contexts of use are functionally identical.
Connotations
Neutral/formal administrative procedure in both varieties.
Frequency
More frequent in US English due to higher visibility of legal procedures and grand jury systems in media. Low frequency in everyday speech for both.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject: authority] + empanel + [Object: jury/committee/group]be empanelled + [prepositional phrase: as/for]have + [Object] + empanelledVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “to be empanelled (on a jury)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Could be used for forming a special committee of inquiry.
Academic
Used in legal studies and political science texts discussing judicial processes.
Everyday
Extremely rare. Most people would say 'called for jury duty' or 'selected for the jury'.
Technical
Core term in legal procedure and court administration.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The court will empanel a new jury for the high-profile fraud case.
- The clerk is responsible for empanelling sufficient jurors.
American English
- The judge ordered the clerk to empanel a grand jury immediately.
- They have been empanelled to review the ethics complaint.
adverb
British English
- Not applicable.
American English
- Not applicable.
adjective
British English
- The empanelled jurors were sequestered for the duration.
- An empanelled review board will convene next week.
American English
- The newly empaneled grand jury began its investigation.
- All empaneled members must attend the orientation.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The court needs to find people to be on the jury.
- The judge had to select a new jury for the complex trial.
- It took two days to empanel an impartial jury, as many candidates were excused.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: ENTER + PANEL. To 'empanel' someone is to enter them onto an official panel.
Conceptual Metaphor
CREATING A TOOL: A jury is a tool for justice; empanelling is the act of forging/assembling that tool.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'panel' as in a wooden board (панель).
- The direct equivalent is 'включать в список присяжных' or 'формировать состав (жюри, комиссии)'.
Common Mistakes
- Confusing spelling: 'impanal', 'empannel'.
- Using it as a general synonym for 'choose' instead of its formal, group-based meaning.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the verb 'empanel' MOST appropriately used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
There is no difference in meaning. 'Empanel' is the more common modern spelling, while 'impanel' is an older variant. Both are correct.
Yes, but it remains a formal word. You can 'empanel a committee of experts' or 'empanel a task force', implying an official, designated group.
No, it is a low-frequency, specialised term used primarily in legal, governmental, and formal administrative contexts.
The related noun is 'empanelment' (or 'impanelment'), referring to the process or act of empanelling. The group itself is a 'panel' or 'jury'.