Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense subpoenas, present participle subpoenaing, past tense, past participle subpoenaed
1. countable noun
A subpoena is a legal document telling someone that they must attend a court of law and give evidence as a witness.
He has been served with a subpoena to answer the charges in court.
2. verb
If someone subpoenas a person, they give them a legal document telling them to attend a court of law andgive evidence. If someone subpoenas a piece of evidence, the evidence must be produced in a court of law.
Select committees have the power to subpoena witnesses. [VERB noun]
The investigation will rely on existing powers to subpoena documents. [VERB noun]
subpoena in British English
(səbˈpiːnə, səˈpiːnə)
noun
1.
a writ issued by a court of justice requiring a person to appear before the court at a specified time
verbWord forms: -nas, -naing or -naed
2. (transitive)
to serve with a subpoena
Word origin
C15: from Latin: under penalty
subpoena in American English
(səˈpinə)
noun
1.
a written legal order directing a person to appear in court to give testimony, show specified records, etc.
verb transitiveWord forms: subˈpoenaed or subˈpoenaing
2.
to summon with such an order
3. US
to order that (specified records, documents, etc.) be brought to a court
Also sp. subˈpena
Word origin
ME suppena < ML subpena < L sub poena, lit., under penalty: see sub- & pain
Examples of 'subpoena' in a sentence
subpoena
Another team had managed through a subpoena to get hold of the church records while the monsignor was out.
Duncan, Robert L THE SERPENT'S MARK (2001)
You can subpoena me, you can get a warrant, but don't do it, please don't do it.
Trenhalle, John A MEANS TO EVIL (2001)
I'd been so afraid to subpoena Jaime as a witness for the hearing that I'd decided to play the bluff.
James Grippando A KING'S RANSOM (2001)
In other languages
subpoena
British English: subpoena VERB
If someone subpoenas a person, they give them a legal document telling them to attend a court of law and give evidence.
Select committees have the power to subpoena witnesses.