miscarriage of justice

noun

: an outcome in a judicial proceeding that is unjust
especially : an error made in a court of law that results in an innocent person being punished or a guilty person being free
His conviction was a miscarriage of justice.

Examples of miscarriage of justice in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
That miscarriage of justice and the loss of trust in the community has stuck with me ever since. — Rebecca Hannigan, PEOPLE, 10 Jan. 2026 We’re invested right from the start as the film begins with an infuriating miscarriage of justice. — Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 28 Jan. 2026 Sally Lambert, her two kids, and her reluctant husband, Mark, head out in the dead of night to prevent a miscarriage of justice. — Yvonne Zipp, Christian Science Monitor, 2 Mar. 2026 Such a result would be nonsensical and a miscarriage of justice to the Bevins and other divorce litigants in Kentucky. — Lucas Aulbach, Louisville Courier Journal, 8 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for miscarriage of justice

Word History

First Known Use

1800, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of miscarriage of justice was in 1800

Rhymes for miscarriage of justice

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Browse Nearby Words

miscarriage
miscarriage of justice
miscarry
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Cite this Entry

“Miscarriage of justice.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/miscarriage%20of%20justice. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Legal Definition

miscarriage of justice

mis·​car·​riage of justice
ˌmis-ˈkar-ij-, ˈmis-ˌkar-
: an error at trial that probably led to a less favorable outcome for the appealing party
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