Meaning & Definition of Trial in English

1. The act of testing something

• "In the experimental trials the amount of carbon was measured separately"

• "He called each flip of the coin a new trial"

2. Trying something to find out about it

• "A sample for ten days free trial"

• "A trial of progesterone failed to relieve the pain"

3. The act of undergoing testing

• "He survived the great test of battle"

• "Candidates must compete in a trial of skill"

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

• "He had a fair trial and the jury found him guilty"

• "Most of these complaints are settled before they go to trial"

5. (sports) a preliminary competition to determine qualifications

• "The trials for the semifinals began yesterday"

6. An annoying or frustrating or catastrophic event

• "His mother-in-law's visits were a great trial for him"

• "Life is full of tribulations"

• "A visitation of the plague"