voir dire

[ vwahr-deer; French vwar-deer ]

nounLaw.
  1. an oath administered to a proposed witness or juror by which they are sworn to speak the truth in an examination to ascertain their competence to serve.

  2. the examination of a proposed witness or juror to ascertain their competence to serve.

Origin of voir dire

1
First recorded in 1670–80; from Anglo-French, equivalent to Old French voir “true, truly” + dire “to say”

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use voir dire in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for voir dire

voir dire

/ (vwɑː ˈdɪə) /


nounlaw
  1. the preliminary examination on oath of a proposed witness by the judge

  2. the oath administered to such a witness

Origin of voir dire

1
C17: from Old French: to speak the truth

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012