Court vs. Trial — What's the Difference?

An institution that resolves legal disputes.

A judicial process determining a case's outcome.

The room where a judge conducts legal proceedings.

An event to test a person's abilities.

A court is any person or institution, often as a government institution, with the authority to adjudicate legal disputes between parties and carry out the administration of justice in civil, criminal, and administrative matters in accordance with the rule of law. In both common law and civil law legal systems, courts are the central means for dispute resolution, and it is generally understood that all people have an ability to bring their claims before a court.

In law, a trial is a coming together of parties to a dispute, to present information (in the form of evidence) in a tribunal, a formal setting with the authority to adjudicate claims or disputes. One form of tribunal is a court.

An extent of open ground partially or completely enclosed by walls or buildings; a courtyard.

A formal examination of evidence by a judge, typically before a jury, in order to decide guilt in a case of criminal or civil proceedings

Abbr. Ct. A short street, especially a wide alley walled by buildings on three sides.

A test of the performance, qualities, or suitability of someone or something

A large open section of a building, often with a glass roof or skylight.

A person, experience, or situation that tests a person's endurance or forbearance

A large building, such as a mansion, arranged around a courtyard.

Test (something, especially a new product) to assess its suitability or performance

The place of residence of a sovereign or dignitary; a royal mansion or palace.

(of a horse, dog, or other animal) compete in trials

The retinue of a sovereign, including the royal family and personal servants, advisers, and ministers.

A proceeding in which opposing parties in a dispute present evidence and make arguments on the application of the law before a judge or jury

A sovereign's governing body, including the council of ministers and state advisers.

An instance of such a proceeding

A formal meeting or reception presided over by a sovereign.

The act or process of testing, trying, or putting to the proof

A person or body of persons that presides over the hearing of cases; a judge or panel of judges.

An instance of such testing, especially as part of a series of tests or experiments

The building, hall, or room where cases are heard.

An effort or attempt

The session at which cases are heard.

A state of pain or anguish that tests patience, endurance, or belief

An ecclesiastical court.

A trying, troublesome, or annoying person or thing

(Sports) An open level area marked with appropriate lines, upon which a game, such as tennis, handball, or basketball, is played.

A preliminary competition or test to determine qualifications, as in a sport.

The body of directors of an organization, especially of a corporation.

Of, relating to, or used in a trial.

A legislative assembly.

Attempted or advanced on a provisional or experimental basis

To attempt to gain; seek

Made or done in the course of a trial or test.

To behave so as to invite or incur

An opportunity to test something out; a test.

To try to gain the love or affections of, especially to seek to marry.

Appearance at judicial court in order to be examined.

To attempt to gain the favor of by attention or flattery

A difficult or annoying experience, such an experience seen as a test of faith and piety

(Zoology) To behave so as to attract (a mate).

A tryout to pick members of a team.

To pursue a courtship; woo.

(ceramics) A piece of ware used to test the heat of a kiln.

(Zoology) To engage in courtship behavior.

(UK) An internal examination set by Eton College.

An enclosed space; a courtyard; an uncovered area shut in by the walls of a building, or by different buildings; also, a space opening from a street and nearly surrounded by houses; a blind alley.

Pertaining to a trial or test.

A street with no outlet, a cul-de-sac.

Attempted on a provisional or experimental basis.

A housing estate under the House Ownership Scheme.

Characterized by having three (usually equivalent) components.

An apartment building, or a small development of several apartment buildings.

Triple.

(social) Royal society.

(grammar) Pertaining to a language form referring to three of something, like people; contrast singular, dual and plural. (See Ambai language for an example.)

The residence of a sovereign, prince, nobleman, or other dignitary; a palace.

To carry out a series of tests on (a new product, procedure etc.) before marketing or implementing it.

The collective body of persons composing the retinue of a sovereign or person high in authority; all the surroundings of a sovereign in his regal state.

To try out (a new player) in a sports team.

Any formal assembling of the retinue of a sovereign.

The act of trying or testing in any manner.

Attention directed to a person in power; behaviour designed to gain favor; politeness of manner; civility towards someone

Any effort or exertion of strength for the purpose of ascertaining what can be done or effected.

(law) The administration of law.

The state of being tried or tempted; exposure to suffering that tests strength, patience, faith, or the like; affliction or temptation that exercises and proves the graces or virtues of men.

The hall, chamber, or place, where justice is administered.

The act of testing by experience; proof; test.

The persons officially assembled under authority of law, at the appropriate time and place, for the administration of justice; an official assembly, legally met together for the transaction of judicial business; a judge or judges sitting for the hearing or trial of cases.

That which tries or afflicts; that which harasses; that which tries the character or principles; that which tempts to evil; as, his child's conduct was a sore trial.

(often capitalized) The judge or judges or other judicial officer presiding in a particular matter, particularly as distinguished from the counsel or jury, or both.

Examination by a test; experiment, as in chemistry, metallurgy, etc.

The session of a judicial assembly.

The formal examination of the matter in issue in a cause before a competent tribunal; the mode of determining a question of fact in a court of law; the examination, in legal form, of the facts in issue in a cause pending before a competent tribunal, for the purpose of determining such issue.

Any jurisdiction, civil, military, or ecclesiastical.

(law) legal proceedings consisting of the judicial examination of issues by a competent tribunal;

(sports) A place arranged for playing the games of tennis, basketball, handball, badminton, volleyball, squash and some other games

The act of testing something;

One of the two divisions of a tennis, badminton or volleyball court, in which the player or players of each team play

(sports) a preliminary competition to determine qualifications;

(transitive) To seek to achieve or win.

(law) the determination of a person's innocence or guilt by due process of law;

(transitive) To risk (a consequence, usually negative).

Trying something to find out about it;

(transitive) To try to win a commitment to marry from.

An annoying or frustrating or catastrophic event;

(transitive) To engage in behavior leading to mating.

The act of undergoing testing;

(transitive) To attempt to attract.

A formal examination of evidence to determine guilt.

(transitive) To invite by attractions; to allure; to attract.

The act of trying or testing something.

(transitive) To attempt to gain alliance with.

A legal proceeding to resolve disputed matters.

(intransitive) To engage in activities intended to win someone's affections.

(intransitive) To engage in courtship behavior.

An inclosed space; a courtyard; an uncovered area shut in by the walls of a building, or by different building; also, a space opening from a street and nearly surrounded by houses; a blind alley.

The residence of a sovereign, prince, nobleman, or other dignitary; a palace.

The collective body of persons composing the retinue of a sovereign or person high in authority; all the surroundings of a sovereign in his regal state.

Any formal assembling of the retinue of a sovereign; as, to hold a court.

Attention directed to a person in power; conduct or address designed to gain favor; courtliness of manners; civility; compliment; flattery.

The hall, chamber, or place, where justice is administered.

The session of a judicial assembly.

Any jurisdiction, civil, military, or ecclesiastical.

A place arranged for playing the game of tennis; also, one of the divisions of a tennis court.

To endeavor to gain the favor of by attention or flattery; to try to ingratiate one's self with.

To endeavor to gain the affections of; to seek in marriage; to woo.

To attempt to gain; to solicit; to seek.

To invite by attractions; to allure; to attract.

To play the lover; to woo; as, to go courting.

An assembly (including one or more judges) to conduct judicial business

The sovereign and his advisers who are the governing power of a state

A specially marked area within which a game is played;

A room in which a law court sits;

A yard wholly or partly surrounded by walls or buildings;

The residence of a sovereign or nobleman;

The family and retinue of a sovereign or prince

A hotel for motorists; provides direct access from rooms to parking area

Australian woman tennis player who won many major championships (born in 1947)

Respectful deference;

Make amorous advances towards;

Seek someone's favor;

Engage in social activities leading to marriage;

A place where justice is administered.

A body of persons presiding over civil or criminal proceedings.

An official assembly for the transaction of judicial business.

A court is an institution where legal disputes are addressed and resolved.

Yes, a court handles various legal matters, not just trials, such as hearings and motions.

A trial is a process where evidence and testimonies are presented to determine guilt or innocence in a case.

Typically, yes; a trial is a legal procedure held within the framework of a court system.

A trial's duration varies based on case complexity, from hours to several months or even years.

Yes, in many legal systems, a trial's decision can be appealed to a higher court.

A trial by jury involves a group of citizens examining evidence and deciding on a verdict.

"Contempt of court" refers to actions that disrespect the court or defy its authority.

A judge or a panel of judges typically oversees proceedings in a court.

No, many matters in a court are resolved through settlements, negotiations, or other legal processes.

There are various types of courts, like criminal, civil, appellate, and supreme courts, among others.

A bench trial is decided by a judge, while a jury trial is decided by a jury of peers.