WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
ˈcourt-ˌmar•tial,
n., pl. courts-mar•tial, court-mar•tials, v., -tialed, -tial•ing or (esp. Brit.) -tialled, -tial•ling.
n. [countable]
v. [~ + object]
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026n. [countable]
- Militarya military court that hears cases against members of the armed forces.
- Militarya trial by such a court.
v. [~ + object]
- Militaryto try (military personnel) by court-martial:The major was court-martialed for mutiny.
court-mar•tial
(kôrt′mär′shəl, -mär′-, kōrt′-),USA pronunciation n., pl. courts-mar•tial, court-mar•tials, v., -tialed, -tial•ing or (esp. Brit.) -tialled, -tial•ling.
n.
v.t.
n.
- Militarya 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.
- Militarya trial by such a court.
- Militarya conviction by such a court:He lost his privileges because of his court-martial.
- Militarya session of such a court:He attended the court-martial this morning.
v.t.
- Militaryto arraign and try by court-martial.
- earlier martial court 1565–75
'court-martial' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):