jury duty

Meanings

1. 1noununcountable

   The legal obligation to serve on a jury and help decide a trial when the court summons you.

   Grammar: Used without an article: she is on jury duty, not a jury duty.

   Patterns

   • be called for jury duty
   • serve on jury duty
   • get out of jury duty

   I received a letter calling me for jury duty next month.

   He asked his employer for time off because of jury duty.

   Many people try to get out of jury duty with a good excuse.

2. 2noununcountable

   The period of time someone spends sitting as a juror in a particular trial.

   Grammar: Often with on: on jury duty for two weeks.

   Patterns

   • be on jury duty
   • finish jury duty

   She was on jury duty for a week-long trial.

   Jury duty kept him away from the office until Friday.

   After finishing jury duty, he said the experience changed his view of the courts.

Common combinations

be called for jury duty

My neighbour was called for jury duty this spring.

serve on jury duty

Citizens must serve on jury duty if selected.

get out of jury duty

He tried to get out of jury duty by claiming illness.

summons for jury duty

A summons for jury duty arrived in the mail.

be excused from jury duty

Full-time carers can be excused from jury duty.

Synonyms and how they differ

jury service

Jury service is the usual term in British English, while jury duty is more American but means the same.

civic duty

Civic duty is broader and includes voting and other public obligations.

call-up

Call-up means being summoned for service, such as military, and is not specific to courts.

Word family

juror noun

a member of a jury

jury noun

a group of citizens who decide a verdict

jury box noun

the place where jurors sit

jury selection noun

the process of choosing jurors

Commonly confused: jury duty or jury service? jury duty or jurist?

Practice

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