grand jury: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low-medium (common in legal/true crime contexts, rare in everyday conversation)Formal, legal, journalistic
Quick answer
What does “grand jury” mean?
A group of citizens convened by a court to determine whether there is sufficient evidence to bring a formal criminal indictment against a suspect.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A group of citizens convened by a court to determine whether there is sufficient evidence to bring a formal criminal indictment against a suspect.
In a broader legal context, the institution serves as a preliminary check on prosecutorial power, ensuring that serious criminal charges have a factual basis before proceeding to trial. Historically, it functions as a shield for citizens against arbitrary or malicious prosecution.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The grand jury is a central, constitutionally protected institution in the US federal and state systems. In England and Wales, its use was largely abolished in 1933, replaced by other committal procedures. It survives in limited form in Northern Ireland for serious fraud cases and certain terrorism-related offences.
Connotations
In the US, it connotes a foundational legal safeguard and prosecutorial power. In the UK, it is an archaic term except in specific jurisdictions, often associated with historical legal processes.
Frequency
Very frequent in American legal/news discourse; extremely rare in modern British legal/news discourse.
Grammar
How to Use “grand jury” in a Sentence
The [prosecutor/DA] presented the case to the grand jury.A grand jury was convened to investigate [allegations/corruption].The grand jury returned an indictment/no bill.She was subpoenaed to testify before the grand jury.Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in cases of serious white-collar crime investigations (e.g., 'The CEO is facing a grand jury probe into insider trading.')
Academic
Used in legal studies, criminology, and political science texts discussing prosecutorial systems, checks and balances, and comparative law.
Everyday
Almost exclusively encountered in news reports about crime and legal proceedings.
Technical
Precise legal term with specific rules of procedure, evidence, and secrecy.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “grand jury”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “grand jury”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “grand jury”
- Using 'grand jury' to mean the jury at a trial. Confusing 'indictment' (grand jury's decision to charge) with 'conviction' (trial jury's decision of guilt). Believing the accused can present evidence to a grand jury (typically, only the prosecution does).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. A grand jury does not determine guilt or innocence. Its sole function is to decide whether there is probable cause to believe a crime was committed and that the accused committed it, leading to an indictment.
Typically, no. Grand jury proceedings are conducted by the prosecutor, who presents evidence and witnesses. The defendant and defence counsel generally have no right to be present, call witnesses, or cross-examine.
A grand jury decides on charges (indictment) in secret, based on the prosecution's case. A trial jury decides guilt or innocence (verdict) in an open court, after hearing both prosecution and defence cases.
Not in England and Wales for ordinary criminal cases; it was abolished in 1933. A form of it exists in Northern Ireland for specific serious offences. The term is therefore primarily associated with the United States legal system.
A group of citizens convened by a court to determine whether there is sufficient evidence to bring a formal criminal indictment against a suspect.
Grand jury is usually formal, legal, journalistic in register.
Grand jury: in British English it is pronounced /ˌɡrænd ˈdʒʊəri/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌɡrænd ˈdʒʊri/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Take it to a grand jury.”
- “The grand jury is still out. (metaphorical, rare)”
- “Indicted by a grand jury.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think GRAND = large (historically comprised more people than a trial jury) and JURY = judgment group. Its grand decision is whether to charge, not to convict.
Conceptual Metaphor
A shield for the citizen / a sword for the state; a filter or screen that separates baseless accusations from valid ones.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary function of a grand jury?