court-martial

/ˌkɔrt ˈmɑrʃəl/

A court-martial is a special legal trial for members of the military. When someone in the armed forces is accused of a crime, they are usually subject to court-martial.

Court-martial is the official name of a military court, or for a trial within that kind of court. Active military members are subject to a separate set of laws from civilians, and part of that military legal process involves facing a judge in a court-martial. Criminal offenses like theft and assault are tried this way, as are military-specific crimes like desertion. Martial means "pertaining to war."

Definitions of court-martial

1. noun

   a military court to try members of the armed services who are accused of serious breaches of martial law
   types:

   drumhead court-martial

   a military court convened to hear urgent charges of offenses committed in action

   special court-martial

   a court-martial to try soldiers for offenses less serious that than those committed in action; consists of at least three officers

   type of:

   military court

   a judicial court of commissioned officers for the discipline and punishment of military personnel
2. noun

   a trial that is conducted by a military court
   type of:

   trial

   (law) the determination of a person's innocence or guilt by due process of law
3. verb

   subject to trial by court-martial
   type of:

   adjudicate, judge, try

   put on trial or hear a case and sit as the judge at the trial of