district court


noun U.S. Law.

(in many states) the court of general jurisdiction.
the federal trial court sitting in each district of the United States.

Origin of district court

An Americanism dating back to 1780–90

Example sentences from the Web for district court

British Dictionary definitions for district court

district court

noun

(in Scotland) a court of summary jurisdiction held by a stipendiary magistrate or one or more justices of the peace to deal with minor criminal offences
(in the US)
  1. a federal trial court serving a federal judicial district
  2. (in some states) a court having general jurisdiction in a state judicial district
(in Australia and New Zealand) a court lower than a high court Former name: magistrates' court