word
Legal
Latin
subpoena
suh-PEE-nuh
səˈpiːnəListen
Hear it in a clear American voice. Slow it down to catch each syllable.
Syllable breakdown
subpoena
Sounds like
Say 'suh-PEE-nuh' — the 'b' is silent in the 'sub' prefix.
Dictionary meaning
A writ ordering a person to attend court.
History and origin
Latin — 'sub poena' (under penalty).
Examples
- The journalist received a subpoena ordering her to reveal her sources to the grand jury.
Common mispronunciations
sub-POH-ee-nuhSUB-pee-nuh
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