courts martial
Definition
- Noun (plural form of ):
- Military tribunals: "courts martial" refers to multiple judicial bodies within the armed forces that try members of the military for violations of military law.
- Trials by such tribunals: The term can also denote the legal proceedings themselves conducted by these military courts.
Usage Examples
- (Multiple military tribunals were established.)
- (The person was tried in two distinct military court proceedings.)
Advanced Usage
- "to be tried by court-martial": to undergo a trial in a military court.
- The officer was tried by court-martial for dereliction of duty. (The officer faced a military trial.)
- "summary court-martial": a less formal type of military trial for minor offenses.
- Summary courts martial are often used for petty infractions. (Informal military tribunals handle small violations.)
Variants and Related Words
- Court-martial (noun, singular): a single military tribunal.
- The court-martial lasted three days. (One military trial.)
- Courts-martial (alternative plural form): sometimes written with a hyphen as "courts-martial," but "courts martial" is the standard plural.
- The records of courts-martial are kept in the archives. (Records of multiple military tribunals.)
- Martial (adj): relating to military affairs or war.
- Martial law was declared in the region. (Military rule was imposed.)
- Martial art (noun): a system of combat techniques.
- Karate is a martial art. (A fighting discipline.)
Synonyms
- Military courts: judicial bodies within the armed forces.
- Service tribunals: formal term for courts that handle military legal matters.
Related Idioms
- "Court-martial offense": an action that violates military law.
- Desertion is a serious court-martial offense. (A crime punishable by military trial.)
- "Drumhead court-martial": a summary military trial held in the field, often without full legal procedures.
- The soldiers faced a drumhead court-martial for mutiny. (A quick, informal military trial.)