(in Scotland) a court of summary jurisdiction held by a stipendiary magistrate or one or more justices of the peace to deal with minor criminal offences - (in the US)
a federal trial court serving a federal judicial district (in some states) a court having general jurisdiction in a state judicial district (in Australia and New Zealand) a court lower than a high court
Former name: magistrates' court
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
dis′trict court′, [U.S. Law.]
- Law(in many states) the court of general jurisdiction.
- Lawthe federal trial court sitting in each district of the United States.
- 1780–90, American.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
'district court' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):