noun
trial
TREYE-uhl
noun
1
A formal examination of evidence in court to decide whether someone is guilty of a crime or liable in a dispute.
"The trial lasted three weeks before the jury reached a verdict."
2
A test used to check how well something works or performs.
"The drug is currently in clinical trials."
"We offered customers a free trial of the new app."
3
A difficult or trying experience.
"Raising three kids alone was one of the great trials of her life."
adj
1
Done on an experimental or provisional basis, to test something out.
"They ran a trial version of the software with a small group of users."
How to Use Trial
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA test of something (a product, a person's ability, a claim), or a court case that decides guilt or liability.
Common pairings
stand trial
clinical trial
trial period
free trial
Word Forms
trialed past tense, trialled past tense, trials plural, trials plural, trials singular
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The _____ lasted three weeks before the jury reached a verdict.
Etymology
From Anglo-Norman trial, from trier, "to test, sort, pick out" — the same French root behind triage.