Writ vs. Subpoena — What's the Difference?

In common law, a writ (Anglo-Saxon gewrit, Latin breve) is a formal written order issued by a body with administrative or judicial jurisdiction; in modern usage, this body is generally a court. Warrants, prerogative writs, and subpoenas are common types of writ, but many forms exist and have existed.

A subpoena (; also subpœna, supenna or subpena) or witness summons is a writ issued by a government agency, most often a court, to compel testimony by a witness or production of evidence under a penalty for failure. There are two common types of subpoenas: subpoena ad testificandum orders a person to testify before the ordering authority or face punishment.

A form of written command in the name of a court or other legal authority to act, or abstain from acting, in a particular way

An order issued under the authority of a court or other governmental body, commanding a person to appear and give testimony or to release certain evidence.

A piece or body of writing.

To serve or summon with such an order.

Archaic past participle of write

A writ requiring a defendant to appear in court to answer a plaintiff's claim.

(Law) A written order issued by a court, commanding the party to whom it is addressed to perform or cease performing a specified act.

(legal) A writ requiring someone to appear in court to give testimony.

Writings

(transitive) To summon with a subpoena.

A past tense and a past participle of write.

A writ commanding the attendance in court, as a witness, of the person on whom it is served, under a penalty; the process by which a defendant in equity is commanded to appear and answer the plaintiff's bill.

(legal) A written order, issued by a court, ordering someone to do (or stop doing) something.

To serve with a writ of subpœna; to command attendance in court by a legal writ, under a penalty in case of disobedience.

Authority, power to enforce compliance.

A writ issued by court authority to compel the attendance of a witness at a judicial proceeding; disobedience may be punishable as a contempt of court

(archaic) That which is written; writing.

Serve or summon with a subpoena;

(archaic) write

(archaic) write

That which is written; writing; scripture; - applied especially to the Scriptures, or the books of the Old and New testaments; as, sacred writ.

An instrument in writing, under seal, in an epistolary form, issued from the proper authority, commanding the performance or nonperformance of some act by the person to whom it is directed; as, a writ of entry, of error, of execution, of injunction, of mandamus, of return, of summons, and the like.

(law) a legal document issued by a court or judicial officer