noun Common

Miranda

mih-RAN-duh

Miranda (noun) means (US, law, often lowercase "Miranda warning") The formal notice police must give a suspect about their right to remain silent and to legal counsel. Example: “The officer read him his Miranda rights before questioning began.”

noun

(US, law, often lowercase "Miranda warning") The formal notice police must give a suspect about their right to remain silent and to legal counsel.

"The officer read him his Miranda rights before questioning began."

How to use Miranda

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishThe "you have the right to remain silent" warning police give when arresting someone in the US.

Common pairings

Miranda rights Miranda warning read someone their Miranda rights

Word forms

Mirandaed past tense, Mirandas plural, Mirandas plural, Mirandas singular

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The officer read him his _____ rights before questioning began.

Etymology

From the 1966 US Supreme Court case Miranda v. Arizona, which established the requirement.

· First attested 1966

Class of 1966 Miranda joined the language around 1966.

Kwanzaa upscale

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Rhymes for Miranda

Anda panda Wanda Manda vanda Handa Nanda Kanda Rwanda Uganda Amanda Chanda

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Frequently asked questions

What does “Miranda” mean?

The word “Miranda” means (US, law, often lowercase "Miranda warning") The formal notice police must give a suspect about their right to remain silent and to legal counsel. In plain terms, the "you have the right to remain silent" warning police give when arresting someone in the US.

How do you pronounce “Miranda”?

“Miranda” is pronounced mih-RAN-duh (/mɪˈɹændə/ in IPA).

How do you use “Miranda” in a sentence?

Here is “Miranda” used in a sentence: “The officer read him his Miranda rights before questioning began.”

What part of speech is “Miranda”?

“Miranda” is a noun.

Where does the word “Miranda” come from?

The word “Miranda” dates back to around 1966. From the 1966 US Supreme Court case Miranda v. Arizona, which established the requirement.

Is “Miranda” a common word?

“Miranda” is a fairly common word in modern English.

What is a Miranda warning?

A Miranda warning is the formal notice that police in the United States must give a suspect informing them of their right to remain silent and their right to legal counsel. The term is often written with a lowercase "m" when used generically, as in "read him his Miranda."

Why is it called "Miranda" rather than something else?

The name comes from the legal requirement associated with the term, and it is specifically a US law concept referring to the rights notice police must provide during an arrest or interrogation. It is commonly shortened to just "Miranda" in everyday and legal speech, as in "Miranda rights" or "Mirandize."

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