Definition

1. Noun:

   • A military court: A judicial body established to try members of the armed forces for serious offenses against military law.
   • A trial by such a court: The legal proceeding itself, conducted by a military court.

2. Verb:

   • To try by a military court: The act of subjecting a member of the armed services to a trial before a military court for alleged breaches of martial law.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:

  • The sergeant faced a court-martial for disobeying a direct order.
  • The general convened a court-martial to hear the case.

• Verb:

  • The officer was court-martialed for conduct unbecoming of his rank.
  • They decided to court-martial the soldier for desertion.

Advanced Usage

• The term is often used in its hyphenated form, especially when functioning as a noun or a verb in the past tense.
  • The news of his court-martial shocked the unit.
  • After the investigation, they moved to court-martial him.

Variants and Related Words

• Court-martialed (verb, past tense and past participle): The standard spelling for the verb form in American English.
  • He was court-martialed last year.
• Court-martialling (verb, present participle/gerund): The act of trying someone by a military court.
  • They are court-martialling the lieutenant.
• Courts-martial (noun, plural): The traditional plural form of the noun.
  • Several courts-martial were held that month.

Synonyms

• Noun (for the trial): Military trial, tribunal.
• Verb: Try (in a military court), prosecute (militarily).

Related Phrases

• To be subject to court-martial: To be liable to be tried by a military court.
  • Any soldier who commits such an act will be subject to court-martial.
• To convene a court-martial: To officially assemble a military court for a trial.
  • The commanding officer has the authority to convene a court-martial.

Noun

1. a trial that is conducted by a military court
2. a military court to try members of the armed services who are accused of serious breaches of martial law

Verb

1. subject to trial by court-martial