Voir Dire Definition

vwär dîr

voir-dires

noun

The phase of a trial in which prospective jurors are examined and jurors are selected.

Webster's New World

Literally to see, to speak; hence, idiomatically, to speak the truth. The usual reference is to an examination by the attorneys and/or the court of prospective jurors to determine whether reasons exist that might disqualify them or cause their selection to be challenged, other than peremptorily. During a trial, a voir dire examination refers to one outside the hearing of the jury concerning some issue of fact or law that requires the court to rule.

Webster's New World Law

(law) A preliminary hearing without a jury in order to determine whether the evidence meets the test for admissibility to go to a full hearing at a criminal trial, in the legal systems of England and Wales, New Zealand, Australia, and the United States.

Wiktionary

verb

To conduct a voir dire of.

Voir dired the witness.

American Heritage

Other Word Forms of Voir Dire

Noun

Singular:

voir dire

Plural:

voir-dires

Origin of Voir Dire

From Anglo-Norman, literally “to speak the truth", from Old French voir (“true; truly") (from Latin vÄ“rus (“true")) + dire (“to say") (from Latin dÄ«cere (“to speak; to say")).

From Wiktionary
Anglo-Norman to speak the truth Latin vērus true wērə-o- in Indo-European roots Latin dīcere to say deik- in Indo-European roots

From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition