French word

non-lieu

Pronunciation

IPA/nɔ̃ljø/

Meaning

  • masculine noundismissal

Example

Le tribunal a prononcé un non-lieu dans cette affaire.

The court ordered the dismissal of the case.

Illustration for non-lieu (dismissal)

More examples

Les médias ont annoncé qu'il avait bénéficié d'un non-lieu.

The media announced that he had benefited from a dismissal.

Core concept

A legal case stops before trial because the evidence does not support prosecution.

Common phrases

  • bénéficier d'un non-lieu

    benefit from a dismissal

  • classer l'affaire en non-lieu

    close the case by dismissing it

Similar words

classement sans suite: Closure of a criminal case by prosecutors without filing charges after inquiries are complete.
poursuites: The process of prosecuting someone for a criminal offense.
mise en examen: The procedural status of a person formally suspected during an investigation.
enquête: An official inquiry into an offense to determine what happened and gather proof.

Definition in French

Décision par laquelle on cesse les poursuites faute de charges suffisantes.

Word origin

Non-lieu combines French non, meaning 'not', with lieu, meaning 'place', and evokes a case having no legal ground on which to proceed.

Usage tips

  • Non-lieu is different from acquittement because it ends the proceedings without a trial verdict of not guilty.

Word lists with this word