Definition

1. Noun:
   • A building that houses judicial courts: A courthouse is a public building where legal cases are heard and decided by judges and juries. It contains courtrooms and related facilities.
   • A government building that houses the offices of a county government: In some regions, especially in the United States, a courthouse can also refer to the main administrative building for a county, housing government offices.

Usage Examples

• Noun (Judicial Building):

  • The trial will be held at the county courthouse.
  • Reporters gathered outside the courthouse to hear the verdict.

• Noun (County Administration Building):

  • You can apply for a marriage license at the county courthouse.
  • The historic courthouse in the town square also contains the tax assessor's office.

Advanced Usage

• "To take someone to the courthouse": This phrase can imply initiating a lawsuit against someone.

  • If they don't pay the debt, we'll have to take them to the courthouse.

• "A courthouse wedding": A wedding ceremony performed by a judge or magistrate in a courthouse, as opposed to a religious or large ceremonial venue.

  • They opted for a simple courthouse wedding with just two witnesses.

Variants and Related Words

• Courtroom (n): The specific room within a courthouse where legal proceedings are conducted.

  • The courtroom was silent as the judge entered.

• Court (n): The institution or the judicial body itself, not just the building.

  • The case is now before the court.

Synonyms

• Judicial building: A formal term for a building dedicated to legal proceedings.
• County seat: The town or city where a county's government buildings, including the courthouse, are located.

Related Phrases

• "To storm the courthouse": To protest or demonstrate at a courthouse, often in large, forceful numbers (figurative).

  • Angry citizens threatened to storm the courthouse after the controversial ruling.

• "Clerk of the courthouse": An official responsible for the administrative records of a court.

  • File the documents with the clerk of the courthouse.

Related Idioms

• "A trip to the courthouse": A common euphemism for being involved in legal proceedings, often negatively.

  • His reckless driving is going to earn him a trip to the courthouse.

• "Pale as a courthouse wall": An idiom describing someone who is extremely pale, often from fear or shock, comparing it to the typically plain, light-colored walls of old courthouses.

  • When he heard the charges, he went pale as a courthouse wall.

Noun

1. a building that houses judicial courts
2. a government building that houses the offices of a county government