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Law vocabulary · Evidence & Proof

Discovery

Meaning in law, with examples

/dɪˈskʌvəri/nounCommon term

In law, discovery means: In US litigation, the pre-trial stage in which each side must give the other relevant documents and information, answer written questions and attend depositions.

In Turkish: delillerin karşılıklı ibrazı, belge ve bilgi ibrazı süreci

How it is used

Lawyers 'conduct', 'request' or 'resist' discovery, and much of the cost of a US case comes from it. 'E-discovery' is the discovery of electronic data such as emails. The English equivalent is 'disclosure', which is usually narrower.

Example sentences

  1. During discovery, the plaintiff obtained thousands of internal emails.

  2. The judge limited discovery to documents created after 2020.

Common collocations

  • pre-trial discovery
  • discovery request
  • e-discovery
  • conduct discovery
  • discovery process
  • disclosureThe stage of an English civil case in which each party must reveal relevant documents and let the other side inspect them; more generally, the act of revealing information.
  • evidenceDocuments, objects, statements and other information that a court uses to decide which facts are true.
  • trialThe formal process in court where evidence is presented and a judge or jury decides the case, usually after weeks or months of preparation.
  • motionA formal request to a judge, made in writing or orally during a case, asking the court to make a particular order or decision.
  • lawsuitA claim that one person or company brings against another in a civil court, usually asking for money or for an order to stop something.

More terms: Evidence & Proof

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This page explains English vocabulary for learners. It is not legal advice.