show trial
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show trial — show trials N COUNT (disapproval) People describe a trial as a show trial if they believe that the trial is unfair and is held for political reasons rather than in order to find out the truth. Amnesty International has denounced the show trials… … English dictionary
show trial — show .trial n an unfair ↑trial that is organized by a government for political reasons, not in order to find out whether someone is guilty ▪ Stalin staged a series of show trials … Dictionary of contemporary English
show trial — show ,trial noun count a trial that a government arranges for political reasons and decides the result of before the trial begins … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English
show trial — ► NOUN ▪ a judicial trial held in public with the intention of influencing or satisfying public opinion, rather than of ensuring justice … English terms dictionary
show trial — n. a trial, widely publicized and seemingly open and fair, of a person regarded as a political subversive or ideological dissident, in which a verdict of guilty is assured by means of false evidence, a forced confession, etc … English World dictionary
Show trial — The term show trial is a pejorative description of a type of highly public trial. The term was first recorded in the 1930s. [OED] There is a strong connotation that the judicial authorities have already determined the guilt of the defendant and… … Wikipedia
show trial — noun a trial held for show; the guilt of the accused person has been decided in advance • Hypernyms: ↑trial * * * noun, pl ⋯ trials [count] : a trial in a court of law in which the verdict has been decided in advance They were forced to confess… … Useful english dictionary
show trial — UK / US noun [countable] Word forms show trial : singular show trial plural show trials a trial that a government arranges for political reasons and decides the result of before the trial begins … English dictionary
show trial — show′ tri al n. gov the public trial of a political offender conducted chiefly for propagandist purposes • Etymology: 1945–50 … From formal English to slang
show trial — trial conducted in a totalitarian country that is not a true and fair trial (the outcome and sentence are generally pre determined) … English contemporary dictionary
show trial — noun (C) an unfair trial 1 (1) that is organized by a government for political reasons, not in order to find out whether someone is guilty: Inadequacies of the Soviet system that made such show trials necessary … Longman dictionary of contemporary English
