Subpoena Meaning in English
word
/səˈpinə/
suh-PEE-nuh
/suːpˈiːnɐ/
soo-PEE-nuh
Definition
An official legal document ordering someone to appear in court or provide evidence.
Usage & Nuances
'Subpoena' is a formal legal term mostly used in the context of court cases. Collocates with 'issue a subpoena', 'serve a subpoena', or 'be subpoenaed'. Commonly seen in legal shows, news, or official documents, rarely in casual speech.
Spanish: citación judicialPortuguese (BR): intimação judicialPortuguese (PT): intimação judicialChinese (Simplified): 传票Chinese (Traditional): 傳票Hindi: सम्मनArabic: أمر استدعاءBengali: সমনRussian: повестка в судJapanese: 召喚状Vietnamese: trát đòi hầu toàKorean: 소환장Turkish: mahkeme celbiUrdu: طلبِ حاضریIndonesian: surat panggilan pengadilan
Example Sentences
The lawyer received a subpoena for documents.
basic
She must appear in court because of a subpoena.
basic
The witness ignored the subpoena.
basic
He was shocked when a subpoena was delivered to his house.
natural
It's rare for someone to get a subpoena unless they're involved in a case.
natural
If you get a subpoena, you can't just ignore it—legal trouble will follow.
natural