Meaning of trial in English

  1. Pronunciation

    /ˈtraɪ(ə)l/

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  1. Noun

    trial

    Etymology

    late Middle English (as a noun): from Anglo-Norman French, or from medieval Latin triallum. The verb dates from the 1980s

    Definitions

    1. (law) legal proceedings consisting of the judicial examination of issues by a competent tribunal

    Examples

    • « most of these complaints are settled before they go to trial »
  2. 2. the act of testing something

    Examples

    • « in the experimental trials the amount of carbon was measured separately »
    • « he called each flip of the coin a new trial »
  3. 3. (sports) a preliminary competition to determine qualifications

    Examples

    • « the trials for the semifinals began yesterday »
  4. 4. (law) the determination of a person's innocence or guilt by due process of law

    Examples

    • « he had a fair trial and the jury found him guilty »
  5. 5. trying something to find out about it

    Examples

    • « a sample for ten days free trial »
    • « a trial of progesterone failed to relieve the pain »
  6. 6. an annoying or frustrating or catastrophic event

    Examples

    • « his mother-in-law's visits were a great trial for him »
    • « life is full of tribulations »
    • « a visitation of the plague »
  7. 7. the act of undergoing testing

    Examples

    • « he survived the great test of battle »
    • « candidates must compete in a trial of skill »