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 direPlural:
voir-diresOrigin of Voir Dire
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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
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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
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