jury
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
The audience attending the first night of a performance, whose reaction may determine whether it succeeds or fails.
Register: slang
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
The jury which decides on the first night usually seals the fate of the season.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “jury” mean?
The audience attending the first night of a performance, whose reaction may determine whether it succeeds or fails.
Is “jury” formal or informal?
jury is generally slang.