court-martial

[kawrt-mahr-shuhl, -mahr-, kohrt-]

noun

plural

courts-martial, court-martials 

1. a court consisting of military or naval personnel appointed by a commander to try charges of offenses by soldiers, sailors, etc., against military or naval law.

2. a trial by such a court.

3. a conviction by such a court.

   He lost his privileges because of his court-martial.

4. a session of such a court.

   He attended the court-martial this morning.

verb (used with object)

court-martialed, court-martialing , court-martialled, court-martialling .

1. to arraign and try by court-martial.

court martial

noun

1. a military court that tries persons subject to military law

verb

1. (tr) to try by court martial

Word History and Origins

Origin of court martial¹

First recorded in 1565–75; earlier martial court

Example Sentences

While those of senior enough rank may have the privilege of resigning in protest, junior enlisted service members and officers will find themselves caught between court martial and committing illegal and immoral transgressions that will haunt them for the rest of their lives.

From Slate

Last year, Ugandan opposition leader Kizza Besigye was kidnapped in Kenya's capital, Nairobi, allegedly by Ugandan security officials, and taken across the border for trial by a court martial.

From BBC

Last year, Ugandan opposition leader, Kizza Besigye, was kidnapped in Nairobi by Ugandan security officials and taken across the border for trial by a court martial.

From BBC

Anyone who, by word or action, upstages him or gets in his way may well fall victim to reprisal on the order of the Mitchell court martial.

From Salon

"I have seen the arguments in the papers by some lawyers regarding the correctness of some civilians being tried in the Court Martial," President Museveni said in a long post on X.

From BBC

Related Words

• military court www.thesaurus.com