rehearing: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1-C2 / Low Frequency / TechnicalFormal, Legal, Official
Quick answer
What does “rehearing” mean?
A second or subsequent hearing of a legal case, application, or argument by the same court or tribunal.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A second or subsequent hearing of a legal case, application, or argument by the same court or tribunal.
The act of considering a matter again, particularly in a formal judicial or quasi-judicial setting. While its primary domain is law, it can be used metaphorically for any formal reconsideration of an argument or issue.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Conceptually identical in legal systems of both regions. The term is equally formal and technical in both.
Connotations
Neutral procedural term in both jurisdictions.
Frequency
Slightly more common in American legal discourse due to the structure of certain appellate procedures, but the difference is marginal.
Grammar
How to Use “rehearing” in a Sentence
The court granted a rehearing [of the case].They applied for a rehearing [before the tribunal].The motion sought a rehearing [on the grounds of new evidence].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “rehearing” in a Sentence
noun
British English
- The Court of Appeal granted a rehearing due to a procedural irregularity.
- The tribunal's rules allow for a rehearing in exceptional circumstances.
American English
- The defendant filed a petition for a rehearing before the full circuit court.
- The motion for a rehearing was denied without comment.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Could be used in the context of internal appeals or formal grievance procedures.
Academic
Used in legal scholarship, political science, and administrative studies discussing judicial processes.
Everyday
Extremely rare. Would only be used by laypeople directly involved in a legal process.
Technical
Core usage is in legal and judicial contexts, including court orders, tribunal rules, and litigation documents.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “rehearing”
- Using 'rehearing' to mean simply listening again (e.g., 'I gave the song a rehearing').
- Confusing it with 'appeal' (a rehearing is a type of appeal proceeding).
- Misspelling as 're-hearing' (the hyphenated form is less common).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not exactly. A rehearing is a specific type of proceeding within an appeal process. An appeal is the broader process of challenging a decision, which may or may not include a rehearing of the evidence.
It is almost exclusively a legal term. Its use in other contexts (e.g., 'a rehearing of the committee's proposal') is highly formal and metaphorical, directly borrowing the legal sense.
A 'retrial' is a new trial before a jury (or judge) in a court of first instance, usually after a mistrial or a successful appeal. A 'rehearing' is often before the same appellate judges who issued the first decision, reconsidering their own or a lower court's ruling based on the existing record.
It is used but is less frequent than the noun 'rehearing'. It appears in legal texts (e.g., 'The court agreed to rehear the case').
A second or subsequent hearing of a legal case, application, or argument by the same court or tribunal.
Rehearing is usually formal, legal, official in register.
Rehearing: in British English it is pronounced /ˌriːˈhɪər.ɪŋ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌriˈhɪr.ɪŋ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'HEAR again' -> 'RE-HEAR-ing'. A judge hears a case again.
Conceptual Metaphor
LEGAL PROCESS IS A JOURNEY (a rehearing is a step back on the path). JUSTICE IS A SCALE (a rehearing re-balances the scale).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'rehearing' MOST appropriately used?