superior court
Americannoun
-
the court of general jurisdiction found in many states of the United States.
-
any court that has general jurisdiction above other courts.
noun
-
(in England) a higher court not subject to control by any other court except by way of appeal See also Supreme Court of Judicature
-
(in several states) a court of general jurisdiction ranking above the inferior courts and below courts of last resort
Etymology
Origin of superior court
An Americanism dating back to 1680–90
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Just last month, a superior court judge in Santa Barbara County said prior intervention by the federal government wasn’t enough to undo an earlier order that kept the pipeline shut down.
From Barron's • Mar. 14, 2026
Hayes was offered up by the Swiss bank on a “silver platter” to authorities, his lawyers alleged in a lawsuit filed Monday in a Connecticut state superior court.
From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 27, 2025
A superior court granted their resentencing petition in May, paving the way for the parole hearings this week.
From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 22, 2025
The hearing was put to Los Angeles County superior court Judge Michael Jesic on Tuesday who resentenced the brothers.
From BBC • May 14, 2025
His job was less flighty than that of district attorney, al- most as permanent and dignified as superior court judge.
From "East of Eden" by John Steinbeck
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
