Meaning & use
kangaroo court
An unofficial court or tribunal that ignores proper legal procedure and typically reaches a predetermined, unfair verdict.
See it in a sentence
The prisoners were tried in a kangaroo court with no real chance to defend themselves.
Critics called the hasty disciplinary hearing a kangaroo court rather than a fair process.
A note on using this word
Kangaroo court is always used disapprovingly, emphasizing that the process is unfair rather than simply informal.
Words with a similar meaning
sham trial
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