petty jury: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Formal, Legal, Historical
Quick answer
What does “petty jury” mean?
A group of citizens (traditionally twelve) sworn to hear the evidence in a trial and deliver a verdict of guilty or not guilty.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A group of citizens (traditionally twelve) sworn to hear the evidence in a trial and deliver a verdict of guilty or not guilty.
The trial-level jury responsible for determining questions of fact in civil and criminal cases, as distinct from a grand jury which considers indictments. Historically called 'petty' (from Old French 'petit') to distinguish it from the 'grand' jury due to its smaller size and different function.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In contemporary usage, both UK and US legal systems prefer 'trial jury' or just 'jury'. 'Petty jury' is an archaism in both. The US retains a clearer historical distinction due to the ongoing use of grand juries at the federal level.
Connotations
Historical, formal, technical. May be used in legal history texts or in very formal courtroom language to explicitly distinguish from a grand jury.
Frequency
Extremely low in everyday language. Slightly higher frequency in academic legal history or historical drama than in modern legal practice.
Grammar
How to Use “petty jury” in a Sentence
The [petty jury] [verbed] that...[Subject] was convicted by a [petty jury] of [crime].Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in legal history, constitutional law, or historical analysis of judicial systems.
Everyday
Extremely rare. A layperson would simply say 'jury'.
Technical
Possible in formal legal writing or historical court documents to specify the type of jury, though 'trial jury' is now standard.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “petty jury”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “petty jury”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “petty jury”
- Using 'petty jury' in modern contexts where 'jury' is sufficient.
- Confusing it with 'grand jury'.
- Assuming 'petty' implies the cases are minor (they are not).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. The 'petty' derives from the French 'petit' meaning 'small', referring to the jury's size compared to a grand jury, not the seriousness of the crime. It tries both major and minor cases.
A grand jury decides if there is enough evidence to charge someone with a crime (indictment). A petty (trial) jury decides if the defendant is guilty or not guilty of that charge at trial.
Only if you are deliberately invoking a historical or very formal legal context. For clarity, 'trial jury' or simply 'jury' is the standard modern term.
Traditionally twelve, but the number can vary by jurisdiction and case type. The key feature is its role as the fact-finding body at trial.
A group of citizens (traditionally twelve) sworn to hear the evidence in a trial and deliver a verdict of guilty or not guilty.
Petty jury is usually formal, legal, historical in register.
Petty jury: in British English it is pronounced /ˈpɛti ˈdʒʊəri/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈpɛti ˈdʒʊri/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No common idioms specific to 'petty jury']”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: A 'petty' (small) group for the 'petty' (from French 'petit') details of the trial, versus the 'grand' (large) group for the 'grand' decision of indictment.
Conceptual Metaphor
JURY AS FACT-FINDING BODY / JURY AS COMMUNITY REPRESENTATIVE
Practice
Quiz
In modern legal terminology, 'petty jury' is best replaced by: