Subpoena
noun /səˈpiːnə/ — A legal order commanding someone to appear or produce documents.
Definition
A writ ordering a person to attend a court under penalty; more broadly, any legal order to appear or to produce evidence — named for the Latin phrase meaning under penalty.
Beyond the definition
The subpoena is the law's reach extending beyond the courtroom. It says: you cannot simply refuse to participate. The state has the power to compel testimony. The existence of this power is both fundamental to justice (witnesses must testify) and one of the law's most coercive instruments.
Origin & history
Latin: sub (under) + poena (penalty, punishment). The writ threatens penalty for non-compliance — under pain of punishment, appear. Used in English legal practice since the 15th century.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
She received a subpoena requiring her to testify before the grand jury.
The company was served with a subpoena demanding it produce all emails from the relevant period.
The threat of a subpoena often produces cooperation that politeness could not.
How to use it
This entry uses a noun. Follow the examples for articles and singular or plural forms; not every noun takes “a” or “an.”
Choose “Subpoena” when the meaning fits your context: A writ ordering a person to attend a court under penalty; more broadly, any legal order to appear or to produce evidence — named for the Latin phrase meaning under penalty.
Synonyms
summons, court order, legal compulsion
Antonyms
voluntary appearance
Related words
Subpoena vs summons
A subpoena demands a person to produce evidence or testify. A summons notifies a defendant that a lawsuit has been filed against them, requiring them to appear in court.
Word in the Wild
See how this word appears in life, language and stories.
Illustrative sentences and imagined stories for learning — not verified sightings, interviews, or sourced quotations.
Fictional scene
Standing in Courtroom Holding Document
An adult stands in a grand, silent courtroom, holding a single document that signifies the gravity of the law.
The document held by the individual is an analogy for a subpoena. It carries the weight of a legal order to appear or produce evidence, reflecting the mandatory nature of appearing in court 'under penalty' as indicated by the formal setting.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration
Questions about this word
What does "Subpoena" mean?
Subpoena is noun meaning: A legal order commanding someone to appear or produce documents.. A writ ordering a person to attend a court under penalty; more broadly, any legal order to appear or to produce evidence — named for the Latin phrase meaning under penalty.
Where does the word "Subpoena" come from?
Latin: sub (under) + poena (penalty, punishment). The writ threatens penalty for non-compliance — under pain of punishment, appear. Used in English legal practice since the 15th century.