Dictionary

habeas corpus en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• /ˌheɪbiæs ˈkɔrpəs/ (Canada, General-American)
• (Canada) audio
• /ˌheɪbiəs ˈkɔːrpəs/ (Canada, General-American)
• /ˌheɪbiəs ˈkɔːpəs/ (Received-Pronunciation)

Etymology

From Latin habeas corpus ad subiciendum (“You (shall) have the body to be subjected to (examination)”), referring to the body of the detainee (not the body of a victim, similar to corpus delicti).

Meanings

1. A writ ordering that a person be brought before a court or a judge, most frequently used to ensure that a person's imprisonment, detention, or commitment is legal.
   • While Trump has not explicitly mentioned habeas corpus in public, it’s what he was referencing last month when he commented on steps he could take to combat nationwide injunctions against his actions on deportations, according to one of the people familiar with the talks. 2025 May 9, Kaitlan Collins, Samantha Waldenberg and Tierney Sneed, “Trump involved in discussions over suspending habeas corpus, sources say”, in CNN:

Forms

Deriveds

habeas corpus ad subjiciendum

Relateds

due process · jurisdiction

Synonyms

writ of habeas corpus

Translations (14)

fi habeas corpus (writ of habeas corpus) · fa قرار احضار زندانی (writ of habeas corpus) · cmn 人身保護令 /人身保护令 (writ of habeas corpus) · kn ಹೇಬಿಯಸ್ ಕಾರ್ಪಸ್ (writ of habeas corpus) · es habeas corpus (writ of habeas corpus) · fi pidätyksen laillisuuden tarkistaminen (writ of habeas corpus) · ml ഹേബിയസ് കോർപ്പസ് (writ of habeas corpus) · ko 인신 보호 영장 (writ of habeas corpus) · te హెబియస్ కార్పస్ (writ of habeas corpus) · ja 人身保護令状 (writ of habeas corpus) · es hábeas corpus (writ of habeas corpus) · ta ஆட்கொணர்வு மனு (writ of habeas corpus) · vi trát bảo thân (writ of habeas corpus) · vi trát "bạn-phải-mang-cơ-thể" (writ of habeas corpus)

habeas corpus en · VERB

Pronunciation

• /ˌheɪbiæs ˈkɔrpəs/ (Canada, General-American)
• (Canada) audio
• /ˌheɪbiəs ˈkɔːrpəs/ (Canada, General-American)
• /ˌheɪbiəs ˈkɔːpəs/ (Received-Pronunciation)

Etymology

From Latin habeas corpus ad subiciendum (“You (shall) have the body to be subjected to (examination)”), referring to the body of the detainee (not the body of a victim, similar to corpus delicti).

Meanings

1. (informal, transitive) To apply the legal principle of habeas corpus to an individual or situation.
   • He saw that according to the fable typed on its lily white face one, John Grimaldi of Brooklyn, was summoned, advised, entreated, requested, ordered, corpus delictied, habeas corpused and generally invited to appear in said court[.] 1918, Frazier Hunt, “Pegging Away”, in Blown by the Draft:
   • Hawley […] particularly desired, judging by his actions, to put polygamists out of existence, at the same time very mercifully habeas corpused all the prostitutes and their supporters[.] 1873 August 12, “The Fate of Judges and All Others Who Work Against Zion”, in The Latter-Day Saints' Millennial Star:

Forms

Relateds

corpus delicti