jury1

 
Pronunciation: /ˈdʒʊəri/

noun (plural juries)

  • a body of people (typically twelve in number) sworn to give a verdict in a legal case on the basis of evidence submitted to them in court: the jury returned unanimous guilty verdicts
  • a body of people selected to judge a competition.

verb (juries, jurying, juried)

[with object] North American
  • judge (an art or craft exhibition or exhibit): the exhibition was juried by a nationally acclaimed artist (as adjective juried) he had a painting in the juried exhibition

Phrases

the jury is out

a decision has not yet been reached on a controversial subject: the jury is still out on whether self-regulation by doctors is adequate

Origin:

late Middle English: from Old French juree 'oath, inquiry', from Latin jurata, feminine past participle of jurare 'swear' (see juror)