What does juror mean?
A juror is a person who serves as a member of a jury in a court proceeding. Jurors are selected under legal procedures, hear the evidence presented in a case, question the parties, deliberate with the other members of the jury, and vote on the verdict. They are expected to follow the judge’s instructions and to assess the evidence impartially rather than merely represent the views of the prosecution or defence. The role is formal and carries civic significance because it places the authority to decide certain cases in the hands of people drawn from the wider community. Although jury sizes and selection rules vary between jurisdictions, the individual juror is always part of a collective decision. The word also has a broader social resonance: it suggests fairness, careful judgment, and the right of an accused person to have their case decided by an impartial panel.
nounA person selected to serve on a jury, hearing the evidence in a legal case and participating in deliberations and the verdict.
- A member of a jury who hears the evidence, participates in deliberations, and helps determine a verdict.
"Each juror must consider the evidence fairly before reaching a verdict."
"The court instructed the jurors to set aside any personal opinions about the defendant."
"A juror was removed from the panel after it emerged that the person had failed to disclose a personal interest."
Use the plural when referring to several jury members or to the jury as a group.
"The jurors deliberated for the rest of the afternoon."
A single holdout juror can leave a jury unable to reach a verdict.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does juror come from?
The word entered English in the late Middle English period through Old French from Latin jurator, meaning “one who swears.” It ultimately comes from Latin jurare, “to swear,” reflecting the juror’s formal undertaking to serve impartially. The related word jury has a similar history, while perjury, abjure, and conjure descend from the same wider family of Latin verbs associated with swearing and oaths.
Related word forms
How juror is actually used
The word is formal and specifically legal. In general conversation, “jury member” may sound less institutional, while “juror” is the usual modern term regardless of gender.
Easily confused with juror
A juror is one person who serves on a jury, whereas the jury is the collective group.