DEMURRER

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does demurrer mean? 

• DEMURRER (noun)
  The noun DEMURRER has 3 senses:

1. (law) a formal objection to an opponent's pleadings

2. (law) any pleading that attacks the legal sufficiency of the opponent's pleadings

3. a defendant's answer or plea denying the truth of the charges against him

  Familiarity information: DEMURRER used as a noun is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• DEMURRER (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

(law) a formal objection to an opponent's pleadings

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

demur; demurral; demurrer

Hypernyms ("demurrer" is a kind of...):

objection (the speech act of objecting)

Domain category:

jurisprudence; law (the collection of rules imposed by authority)

Derivation:

demur (take exception to)

demur (enter a demurrer)

Sense 2

Meaning:

(law) any pleading that attacks the legal sufficiency of the opponent's pleadings

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Hypernyms ("demurrer" is a kind of...):

pleading ((law) a statement in legal and logical form stating something on behalf of a party to a legal proceeding)

Domain category:

jurisprudence; law (the collection of rules imposed by authority)

Derivation:

demur (take exception to)

demur (enter a demurrer)

Sense 3

Meaning:

A defendant's answer or plea denying the truth of the charges against him

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

defence; defense; demurrer; denial

Context example:

he gave evidence for the defense

Hypernyms ("demurrer" is a kind of...):

due process; due process of law ((law) the administration of justice according to established rules and principles; based on the principle that a person cannot be deprived of life or liberty or property without appropriate legal procedures and safeguards)

Domain category:

jurisprudence; law (the collection of rules imposed by authority)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "demurrer"):

entrapment (a defense that claims the defendant would not have broken the law if not tricked into doing it by law enforcement officials)

Holonyms ("demurrer" is a part of...):

trial ((law) the determination of a person's innocence or guilt by due process of law)