subpoena

1 of 2

noun

sub·​poe·​na sə-ˈpē-nə How to pronounce subpoena (audio)
nonstandard
-nē How to pronounce subpoena (audio)
Synonyms of subpoenanext
: a writ commanding a person designated in it to appear in court under a penalty for failure

subpoena

2 of 2

verb

subpoenaed; subpoenaing

transitive verb

: to serve or summon with a writ of subpoena

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The Origin of Subpoena

If you think you recognize the sub- in subpoena as the prefix meaning "under, beneath, below," you're on target. Subpoena arrived in Modern English (via the Middle English suppena) from the Latin sub poena, a combination of sub and poena, meaning "penalty." Other poena descendants in English include impunity ("freedom from penalty"), penal ("of or relating to punishment"), and even punish. There is also the verb subpoena, as in "Defense lawyers have subpoenaed several witnesses to the crime."

Synonyms of subpoena

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Noun

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Examples of subpoena in a Sentence

Noun received a subpoena to appear as a witness for the prosecution Verb He was subpoenaed to testify in a hearing. The prosecutor subpoenaed the defendant's financial records.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Courts in some cases have quashed subpoenas or ordered the review of grand jury transcripts, and the criminal cases against Comey and New York Atty. — Alanna Durkin Richer, Los Angeles Times, 28 Aug. 2026 The university asserted that the subpoena would create unnecessary work for the police department, unearth irrelevant documents and waste the time of everyone involved. — Joaquin Sapien, ProPublica, 28 Aug. 2026
Verb
Kushner, meanwhile, is the target of a UEFA legal effort—the European soccer governing body wants to subpoena him to testify about investment negotiations with FIFA President Gianni Infantino. — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 28 Aug. 2026 This has included subpoenaing Microsoft, Discord, Google, and X/Twitter to not only take down the footage, but also turn over account details that might be connected to the CyberLeek group. — Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 26 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for subpoena

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English suppena, from Latin sub poena under penalty

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1640, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of subpoena was in the 15th century

Phrases Containing subpoena

Rhymes for subpoena

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Browse Nearby Words

subplow
subpoena
subpoena ad testificandum
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Cite this Entry

“Subpoena.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/subpoena. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

subpoena

1 of 2 noun
sub·​poe·​na sə-ˈpē-nə How to pronounce subpoena (audio)
: an order in writing commanding a person named in it to appear in court under a penalty for failure to appear

subpoena

2 of 2 verb
subpoenaed; subpoenaing
: to serve or summon with a subpoena
Etymology

Noun

from the Latin phrase sub poena "under penalty"; used as the beginning words of the order

Legal Definition

subpoena

1 of 2 noun
sub·​poe·​na
variants also subpena
sə-ˈpē-nə
: a writ commanding a designated person upon whom it has been served to appear (as in court or before a congressional committee) under a penalty (as a charge of contempt) for failure to comply compare summons

subpoena

2 of 2 transitive verb
variants also subpena
subpoenaed; subpoenaing
: to call before a court or hearing by a subpoena
the inspector is given the power to subpoena any relevant…witnesses—Harvard Law Review
also : to command the production of (evidence) by a subpoena duces tecum
subpoenaed documents
Etymology

Noun

Latin sub poena under penalty

More from Merriam-Webster on subpoena

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about subpoena

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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