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Law vocabulary · Evidence & Proof

Expert witness

Meaning in law, with examples

nounCommon term

In law, expert witness means: A person with special knowledge, such as a doctor, engineer or accountant, who gives the court an opinion on technical questions in a case.

In Turkish: bilirkişi, uzman tanık, uzman

How it is used

In common law countries each party usually 'instructs' or 'retains' its own expert witness, although the expert's main duty is to the court. Experts write an 'expert report' and may be cross-examined. Ordinary witnesses can only describe facts; expert witnesses may give opinions.

Example sentences

  1. Both sides called expert witnesses on the cause of the fire.

  2. The expert witness admitted that her report had not considered the second test.

Common collocations

  • call an expert witness
  • independent expert witness
  • expert witness report
  • instruct an expert witness
  • witnessA person who tells a court what they saw, heard or know about a case; also someone who watches a document being signed and then signs it too.
  • testimonyA formal statement that a witness makes in court or in writing, usually under oath, about facts they know.
  • evidenceDocuments, objects, statements and other information that a court uses to decide which facts are true.
  • cross-examinationThe questioning of a witness by the lawyer for the other side, in order to test the witness's account and find weaknesses in it.
  • testifyTo give evidence in court or at another formal hearing, usually by answering questions after promising to tell the truth.

More terms: Evidence & Proof

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