grand jury
noun
a jury, at common law, of 12 to 23 persons, designated to inquire into alleged violations of the law in order to ascertain whether the evidence is sufficient to warrant trial.
Compare
petty jury.
Origin of grand jury
First recorded in 1490–1500,
grand jury is from the Anglo-French word
graund juree
Words nearby grand jury
Example sentences from the Web for grand jury
British Dictionary definitions for grand jury
grand jury
noun
law
(esp in the US and, now rarely, in Canada) a jury of between 12 and 23 persons summoned to inquire into accusations of crime and ascertain whether the evidence is adequate to found an indictment. Abolished in Britain in 1948
Compare petit jury
Cultural definitions for grand jury
grand jury
A jury that decides whether the evidence warrants bringing an accused person to trial. Once indicted (see indictment) by a grand jury, a person must stand trial.