noun
subpoena
suh-PEE-nuh
noun
1
A legal order requiring someone to appear in court or produce evidence, under threat of punishment for ignoring it.
"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.
Common pairings
issue a subpoena
subpoena a witness
served with a subpoena
Word Forms
subpoenaed past tense, subpoenas plural, subpoenae plural, subpoenæ plural, subpoenas singular
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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").