hostile witness: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Legal/Formal
Quick answer
What does “hostile witness” mean?
In law, a witness who, when called to testify by one party in a trial, is biased against that party and may give evidence favorable to the opposing party.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
In law, a witness who, when called to testify by one party in a trial, is biased against that party and may give evidence favorable to the opposing party.
A witness whose testimony is adverse to the party who called them, often because they are aligned with or sympathetic to the opposing side. The term is also used metaphorically to describe someone within a group or organization who acts or provides information contrary to the interests of that group.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Both UK and US legal systems use the term identically in meaning and procedure. No significant lexical or procedural differences.
Connotations
Identical legal connotations. In metaphorical use, slightly more common in UK political/journalistic discourse.
Frequency
High frequency in legal contexts in both regions. Very low frequency in everyday speech.
Grammar
How to Use “hostile witness” in a Sentence
The prosecution [verb: declared, treated] the witness as hostile.The defence called a witness who turned out to be hostile.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “hostile witness” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- Counsel applied to the judge to hostile the witness.
- The witness was hostiled by the prosecution.
American English
- The attorney moved to treat the witness as hostile.
- The witness was declared hostile by the court.
adjective
British English
- The hostile witness testimony damaged their own side's case.
- They faced a hostile witness scenario.
American English
- The hostile witness rule allows leading questions.
- It was a classic hostile witness situation.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rarely used. Possibly metaphorical: 'The CFO was a hostile witness during the internal audit, revealing damaging information.'
Academic
Used in legal studies, criminology, and political science papers discussing judicial processes.
Everyday
Extremely rare. May appear in news reports about court cases.
Technical
Core term in legal procedure, with specific rules governing the cross-examination of such witnesses.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “hostile witness”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “hostile witness”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “hostile witness”
- Using it to mean a witness who is simply rude or aggressive on the stand. The hostility is to the case of the party who called them, not their demeanour.
- Thinking 'hostile' implies the witness is hostile to both sides.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. If it is known or becomes immediately apparent that a witness's testimony is adverse to the party calling them, they can be declared hostile at the outset of their examination.
In casual terms, yes. However, 'hostile witness' is the precise legal term with procedural implications, whereas 'unfriendly witness' is more descriptive and non-technical.
No. Their testimony remains part of the evidence. The declaration simply changes the rules of how the calling party may question them, allowing for leading questions to challenge their evidence.
Yes. In politics, journalism, or business, it can describe someone within an organization who, when questioned or observed, acts against the interests of their own group, akin to a whistle-blower viewed negatively by the leadership.
In law, a witness who, when called to testify by one party in a trial, is biased against that party and may give evidence favorable to the opposing party.
Hostile witness is usually legal/formal in register.
Hostile witness: in British English it is pronounced /ˈhɒs.taɪl ˈwɪt.nəs/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈhɑː.stəl ˈwɪt.nəs/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a HOST throwing a party (the party who called them), but the WITNESS is hostile and tells all the guests bad things about the host.
Conceptual Metaphor
A TURNCOAT ON THE STAND. A TRAITOR IN THE COURTROOM.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary consequence of a witness being declared 'hostile'?