# subpoena

/səˈpinə/ (US) · /suːpˈiːnɐ/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/subpoena
Updated: 2026-05-06

## Definition

a legal document that orders someone to go to a court of law. If you receive one, you must appear as a witness or provide specific documents.

For teachers: a formal written order issued by a court or other government agency to compel a witness to testify or produce evidence. Failure to comply typically results in a penalty for contempt.

## Examples

- The lawyer sent a subpoena to the witness.
- The company received a subpoena for all internal emails related to the merger investigation.
- Legal counsel advised the executive that ignoring the subpoena would likely result in a contempt of court charge, regardless of the sensitive nature of the requested documents.

## Pitfalls

- Not "the police subpoenaed to him" but "the police subpoenaed him" — When used as a verb, it is transitive and does not take the preposition 'to'.

## Usage notes

- Often used with the verbs 'issue', 'serve', or 'comply with'.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.