Trials: meaning, definitions and examples

The word is often repeated but generally is best used as described above in a legal setting to talk about formal court procedures.

• She faced multiple trials before the case was resolved
• The trials revealed significant new evidence

Refers to a legal proceeding before a judge or administrative body, often less formal than a trial and usually for preliminary issues or smaller disputes.

• The preliminary hearing is scheduled for next month
• She attended the hearing to provide her testimony

General term used in legal settings to refer to any legal matter brought before a court for adjudication.

• The lawyer spent hours preparing for the case
• In this case, the defendant was found not guilty

A legal action taken by one party against another in a court of law; often used in civil cases rather than criminal.

• They filed a lawsuit against the company for breach of contract
• The lawsuit resulted in a significant financial settlement

Plural form of 'trial'. Often used to refer to multiple instances of testing or experimenting, usually under slightly different conditions.

• The new treatment underwent multiple trials before approval.
• The engineering team conducted several trials to perfect the design.

Broadly used in various contexts like education, software development, or product quality to measure performance, knowledge, or skills. It can be formal or informal.

• I have a math test tomorrow.
• The software will undergo several tests to ensure its reliability.

Mostly associated with scientific research, where hypotheses are tested through controlled methods. Often implies a more exploratory and investigative approach.

• The scientists conducted an experiment to test their theory.
• In our chemistry class, we did an experiment to see the reaction of different chemicals.

Commonly used in academic, job performance, or other formal settings to assess the value, performance, or quality of something.

• The annual employee evaluation will begin next week.
• The teacher conducted an evaluation of the students' projects.

Used to describe a series of experiences or circumstances that test someone's resilience or abilities. Often used in a general sense or in literature.

• She faced many trials in her journey, yet she never gave up
• The trials of life can make us stronger

Implies severe suffering or trouble, often related to financial or living conditions. Typically has a negative connotation.

• After losing his job, he went through great hardship
• The refugees experienced extreme hardship during their journey

Refers to a situation or task that requires effort and determination to overcome. Often used positively to imply an opportunity for growth or improvement.

• Taking on this new project will be a big challenge for everyone
• She loves a good challenge and always pushes herself to the limit

Describes a situation or problem that makes something hard to do or understand. Used in a general sense, can be neutral or negative.

• He is having difficulty learning the new software
• The team faced many difficulties during the project