Jury
noun
Definition
1. A group of people who decide if someone is guilty in court.
2. A group of judges in a competition.
2. A group of judges in a competition.
Context Alive
The courtroom was completely silent as everyone waited for the decision. The jury had been discussing the case behind closed doors for over six hours. When they finally walked back in, nobody could tell from their faces which way the verdict would go.
Meanings
2 meanings 1 A Group of People Who Decide Guilt in Court (Noun) Very Common ▼
This meaning is about the group of ordinary citizens who listen to evidence in a trial and decide the outcome. Imagine a murder trial where twelve people sit in a jury box, hearing every detail for weeks before going into a private room to make their decision. This is the jury — the group responsible for the verdict. You might hear “the jury found him guilty” or someone could say “the jury is still deliberating.” Or picture a tense courtroom drama where a lawyer gives a powerful speech, hoping to convince the jury that his client is innocent. The word carries a strong sense of justice and civic duty. ✏️ “The jury is still out” is a very common idiom — it means a decision hasn’t been made yet, even outside of legal situations.
Vivid ExampleThe lawyer made her final argument and sat down. The jury left the courtroom to discuss everything they had heard over the past two weeks. When they returned three hours later, the defendant held his breath.
2 A Group of Judges in a Competition (Noun) Common ▼
This meaning is about a panel of experts chosen to evaluate entries and pick winners in a competition. Imagine a film festival where a jury of five famous directors watches all the submitted films and then decides which one deserves the top prize. This is using jury to mean the judging panel. You might hear “the jury awarded first place to a young photographer” or “all entries will be reviewed by a professional jury.” Or think about a cooking competition where the jury tastes every dish and scores them based on flavor, presentation, and creativity. The word suggests authority and expertise in making a fair choice. ✏️ Unlike the court meaning, this jury is made up of experts in the field — not ordinary citizens.
Vivid ExampleThe art competition had attracted hundreds of entries from around the world. The jury spent three full days reviewing every piece before narrowing it down to ten finalists. The winner would be announced at a special ceremony that weekend.
Examples from the Street
“I got called for jury duty next month — I really don’t want to miss work.”
I received a legal summons to serve on a jury, and it’s going to interfere with my job
“The jury is still out on whether this new policy will actually help.”
People haven’t decided yet / The verdict isn’t in on whether it’s a good idea
“The jury found him not guilty, but most people still think he did it.”
The group of citizens in the trial declared him innocent, but public opinion disagrees
Common Patterns
the jury [found/returned a verdict of] → the group of citizens delivered their decision
a jury of [number] people → specifying the size of the panel
serve on a jury → be a member of a jury during a trial
jury duty/service → the legal obligation to participate as a juror
trial by jury → a trial decided by ordinary citizens rather than a judge alone
the jury deliberated [for hours/days] → the panel discussed the case privately before reaching a decision
a jury of experts/judges → a panel that evaluates entries in a competition
the jury awarded [something] to → the panel chose someone as the winner
a jury of [one’s] peers → people from the same community or background judging you
the jury is still out (on something) → no decision has been made yet; opinion is divided
the jury is in → the decision has been made; the matter is settled
Collocations
4 collocationsjury duty
the obligation to serve on a legal panel
the jury is still out
no decision has been reached yet
jury deliberation
the process of the jury discussing a verdict
trial by jury
a legal case decided by a panel of citizens
Example Sentences
12 examples
1
The jury found the defendant guilty of fraud after only two hours of discussion
The panel of citizens declared the accused person responsible for financial deception following a brief private conversation.
2
She was called to serve on a jury for a high-profile murder case
She received a summons to sit as a member of the decision-making panel in a widely publicised killing trial.
3
I’ve been trying to get out of jury duty because I can’t afford to miss two weeks of work
I’ve been attempting to avoid my legal obligation to participate in a trial because losing a fortnight of income would hurt me financially.
4
In the UK, a jury of 12 people decides whether someone is guilty or not guilty
In Britain, a group of twelve ordinary citizens determines whether a person committed the crime they’re charged with.
5
He chose a trial by jury rather than having a single judge decide his fate
He opted to have a group of ordinary citizens hear his case instead of leaving the outcome to one legal official.
6
The jury deliberated for three days before reaching a unanimous verdict
The panel discussed the evidence privately for seventy-two hours before all members agreed on the same decision.
7
A jury of experts selected the winner of the international architecture competition
A panel of specialists chose the top entry in the worldwide building design contest.
8
Every citizen has the right to be judged by a jury of their peers
Every person is entitled to have their case decided by fellow members of their own community.
9
The jury is still out on whether social media does more harm than good
People haven’t reached a conclusion yet about whether online platforms cause more damage than benefit.
10
After years of testing, the jury is in — the vaccine is safe and effective
Following extensive research, the matter is settled — the injection works well and poses no significant risk.
Learner Examples
★
The jury is still out on whether AI tools help students learn English faster or just make them lazier
Nobody has decided yet whether artificial intelligence programmes speed up language acquisition or simply encourage learners to put in less effort.
★
In a speaking exam, the examiners act like a jury — they listen to the evidence of your ability and deliver their verdict
During an oral assessment, the evaluators function like a decision-making panel — they hear proof of your skill level and then give their final judgement.
Phrasal Verbs & Idioms
2 items Idioms & Expressionsthe jury is still out — no decision has been made yet
The jury is still out on the new company policy.
trial by jury — judgment by fellow citizens
In many countries, you have the right to a trial by jury.
Synonyms & Antonyms
3 items
Synonymspanel
group making a decision
tribunal
formal judging body
board
group with authority