HOW TO PRONOUNCE
subpoena
/səˈpinə/
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American Pronunciation Guide · 1:05
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Stress PEE.
The b is silent in suh-PEE-nuh. Keep the opening and closing vowels light.
3 syllables · Stress on syllable 2
TRY SAYING
“The witness received a subpoena.”
APG practice sentence · CC BY-SA 4.0
CMU Pronouncing Dictionary ↗What does subpoena mean?
noun
- A writ (“written order”) requiring someone to appear in court, or at a deposition or some other legal proceeding, as a witness to give testimony (a subpoena ad testificandum) or to produce evidence (subpoena duces tecum), in default of which the person may be punished.
- (figuratively) A motive or thing which can compel or demand something, or summon someone.
verb
- To summon (someone) with a subpoena (noun sense 1) to appear in court, or at a deposition or some other legal proceeding, as a witness to give testimony or to produce evidence; to serve a subpoena on (someone).
More meanings (3)
verb
- To require (a document or other evidence) to be produced before a court, or at a deposition or some other legal proceeding.
- (figuratively) To compel or summon (someone or something); to demand.
noun
- (historical) A writ requiring a defendant to appear in court to answer a plaintiff's claim (a subpoena ad respondendum); in England and Wales, and Ireland, this writ was formerly issued by the Court of Chancery at the plaintiff's request to commence a suit, but the procedure was abolished in 1852.
Definitions regrouped for readability · CC BY-SA 4.0
IPA pronunciation
/səˈpinə/
Pronunciation used in the listening tip.
CMU Pronouncing Dictionary ↗Pronunciation varies by speaker and region. About these dictionary pronunciations.
In the pages of books
See this word in context.
Hark, the hour of ten is sounding: Hearts with anxious fears are bounding, Hall of Justice, crowds surrounding, Breathing hope and fear— For to-day in this arena, Summoned by a stern subpoena, Edwin, sued by Angelina, Shortly will appear.
“You’ll have to subpoena me, Mr. Inspector, and I shall have to tell the truth. And the truth is this: An instant after the old man was pitched bleeding out of the window, I ran into the attic, and found his daughter swooning on the floor with a red dagger still in her hand. Allow me to hand that also to the proper authorities.”