juryman
C1formal, dated, legal
Definition
Meaning
A member of a jury, typically in a court of law, who participates in deciding a verdict.
In historical contexts, specifically refers to a male juror; the term is largely supplanted by the gender-neutral 'juror' in modern usage.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The term primarily denotes function (a person serving on a jury) and is historically gendered. Its use implies a specific legal role and civic duty.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term 'juryman' is used in both varieties but is considered old-fashioned. The UK legal system may retain it in historical or formal documents; the US system strongly prefers 'juror'.
Connotations
In both, the term can evoke a more traditional or historical legal setting. May carry slight formal/archaic overtones.
Frequency
Very low frequency in modern corpora for both. 'Juror' is overwhelmingly dominant in current American English; 'Juryman' persists marginally more in British historical/formal legal texts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
The juryman [verb: deliberated, listened, agreed].Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No specific idioms for 'juryman'; related: 'jury of one's peers', 'hung jury']”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in historical or socio-legal studies discussing past legal institutions.
Everyday
Virtually never used in casual conversation.
Technical
Used in specific, often historical, legal documentation or discussions about jury composition.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The term is not used as a verb.
American English
- The term is not used as a verb.
adverb
British English
- The term is not used as an adverb.
American English
- The term is not used as an adverb.
adjective
British English
- The term is not used as an adjective.
American English
- The term is not used as an adjective.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- In the old story, the juryman listened carefully.
- In the 19th-century trial, every juryman was required to be a property owner.
- The barrister's florid rhetoric was designed to appeal not just to the judge but to each individual juryman in the box.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'JURY' + 'MAN' – a man who serves on a jury. Compare to 'policeman' or 'fireman' – similar gendered, dated occupational terms.
Conceptual Metaphor
JUSTICE IS A (MALE) CIVIC DUTY. The outdated term reflects a historical conceptualization of civic roles as predominantly male.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not translate as 'юрист' (lawyer) or 'судья' (judge). The correct equivalent is 'присяжный заседатель', with 'juryman' being the gendered, historical variant.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'juryman' in contemporary writing instead of 'juror'. Pluralizing as 'jurymans' instead of 'jurymen'. Confusing the role with a judge or lawyer.
Practice
Quiz
In which context would the term 'juryman' be LEAST appropriate today?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it is a correct but dated and gendered term. The modern, standard term is 'juror'.
The standard plural is 'jurymen'.
'Jurywoman' exists but is even rarer and similarly dated. 'Juror' covers all genders.
It is linguistically non-inclusive (excludes women) and is archaic. Using 'juror' ensures clarity, modernity, and gender neutrality.