Definition

Adjective Phrase 1. Undergoing a formal examination in a court of law: Used to describe a person who is the defendant in a legal proceeding where evidence is presented to determine their guilt or innocence. 2. Being tested or evaluated: Used to describe a product, system, or idea that is in a period of assessment to determine its effectiveness, quality, or suitability.

Usage Examples

• Legal Context:

  • The accused is on trial for fraud and will appear in court next week.
  • While on trial, he maintained his innocence.

• Testing/Evaluation Context:

  • The new software is on trial for 30 days before we decide to purchase it.
  • The revised teaching methods are on trial this semester to see if they improve results.

Advanced Usage

• "to put/place someone/something on trial": To initiate a formal legal process against someone or, figuratively, to subject an idea or institution to intense scrutiny.
  • The prosecutor sought to put the company on trial for environmental violations.
  • The recent scandal has placed the government's integrity on trial.

Variants and Related Words

• Trial (n): The formal examination of evidence in a court; a test of performance.
• Try (v): To examine and decide a case in a legal forum; to test something.

Synonyms

• In court: Facing legal proceedings.
• Under scrutiny: Being closely examined.
• Being tested/assessed: Undergoing evaluation.
• On probation: Often used for a conditional test period, especially for employment.

Related Idioms

• "A trial run": A preliminary test of a system or process.
  • We'll do a trial run of the event setup tomorrow.
• "Stand trial": To be the defendant in a legal trial.
  • He will stand trial next month.

Adjective

1. in the process of being tested or tried