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subpoena

Syllabification: (sub·poe·na)

Pronunciation: /səˈpēnə/

Law

Translate subpoena | into French | into Italian

Definition of subpoena

noun

(in full subpoena ad testificandum)

a writ ordering a person to attend a court:a subpoena may be issued to compel their attendance they were all under subpoena to appear

verb (subpoenas, subpoenaing, subpoenaed /-nəd/)

[with object]

summon (someone) with a subpoena:the Queen is above the law and cannot be subpoenaed
require (a document or other evidence) to be submitted to a court of law:the decision to subpoena government records