circuit court

noun

: a court that sits at two or more places within one judicial district

Examples of circuit court in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Herbert is next due in court for a status hearing on July 22, Kane County circuit court records show. — Molly Morrow, Chicago Tribune, 16 June 2026 The case is being tried in Martin County circuit court, just north of Palm Beach County. — ABC News, 2 July 2026 Every federal circuit court has since developed its own human resources program for workers to resolve disputes. — Carrie Johnson, NPR, 19 June 2026 This week, a circuit court judge granted a temporary stay, preventing student reassignments while the court considers whether the state board erred in dismissing the appeal. — Caroline Foreback, CBS News, 24 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for circuit court

Word History

First Known Use

1708, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of circuit court was in 1708

Rhymes for circuit court

See All Rhymes for circuit court

Browse Nearby Words

circuit breaker
circuit court
circuit edges
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Cite this Entry

“Circuit court.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/circuit%20court. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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Legal Definition

circuit court

noun
: a court that sits in more than one place in a judicial district: as
a
: a state court usually with original jurisdiction and sometimes with appellate jurisdiction
b
: any of the federal courts of appeals
—not used technically

Note: Before 1948, the U.S. Courts of Appeals were known as Circuit Courts of Appeals.

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