noun
Uncommon
subpoena
suh-PEE-nuh
Subpoena (noun) means a legal order requiring someone to appear in court or produce evidence, under threat of punishment for ignoring it. Example: “The witness received a subpoena to testify at the trial.”
noun
1
A legal order requiring someone to appear in court or produce evidence, under threat of punishment for ignoring it.
""He won't be waging wars all the world – he'll be waging 'warsuits,'" Noah said. "Droning people with subpoenas all over the globe.""
— David Moye, Trevor Noah: If Trump is Elected, He’ll Wage ‘Warsuits’ (2016)
"I hereby request that the committee hold the subpoena in abeyance and delay any vote on whether to recommend a citation of contempt for noncompliance with the subpoena, pending the president's determination of this question."
— , Justice Dept. threatens House Democrats over contempt in Barr battle (2019)
"The witness received a subpoena to testify at the trial."
verb
1
To legally compel someone to appear in court or hand over evidence.
"Prosecutors subpoenaed the company's financial records."
How to use subpoena
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishAn official legal demand to show up in court or hand over evidence — or the act of issuing that demand.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
issue a subpoena
subpoena a witness
served with a subpoena
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Word forms
- Plural
- subpoenas, subpoenae, subpoenæ
- Third person singular
- subpoenas
- Past tense
- subpoenaed
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The witness received a _____ to testify at the trial.
Etymology
From Latin sub poena, "under penalty" — the opening words of the original writ, from sub ("under") plus poena ("penalty").
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for subpoena
See all rhymes for subpoena →Frequently asked questions
What does “subpoena” mean?
The word “subpoena” means a legal order requiring someone to appear in court or produce evidence, under threat of punishment for ignoring it. In plain terms, an official legal demand to show up in court or hand over evidence — or the act of issuing that demand.
How do you pronounce “subpoena”?
“Subpoena” is pronounced suh-PEE-nuh (/səˈpi.nə/ in IPA).
How do you use “subpoena” in a sentence?
Here is “subpoena” used in a sentence: “The witness received a subpoena to testify at the trial.”
What part of speech is “subpoena”?
Depending on how it is used, “subpoena” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “subpoena” come from?
The word “subpoena” comes from Latin. From Latin sub poena, "under penalty" — the opening words of the original writ, from sub ("under") plus poena ("penalty").
Is “subpoena” a common word?
“Subpoena” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “subpoena” have?
“Subpoena” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a legal order requiring someone to appear in court or produce evidence, under threat of punishment for ignoring it.
