jury
word
Definition
A jury is a group of ordinary people chosen to listen to a court case and decide the facts, such as whether someone is guilty or not. The word can also mean a group of judges in a competition, depending on the context.
Usage & Nuances
Most often used for court trials: 'the jury reached a verdict', 'jury duty', 'a jury trial'. In everyday English, 'judge' and 'jury' are different: the judge controls the trial, while the jury decides the facts. In some contexts, especially competitions, 'jury' can mean a panel of evaluators, but that use is less common in daily conversation.
Example Sentences
The jury listened to the lawyer carefully.
basic
The jury said he was not guilty.
basic
She was chosen for jury duty this month.
basic
The jury was out for hours, so everyone in the courtroom was getting nervous.
natural
He got called for jury duty right before his vacation.
natural
Even the jury looked surprised when the new evidence came in.
natural