WordGarden.ioimpanel
B2Pronunciation
UK
- /ɪmpˈænəl/
US
- /ˌɪmˈpænəl/
Meanings
Verb
to select and enroll people as a jury
to appoint or assemble people as an official panel
Beyond the definition
Imagine a courtroom drama: the tension is high as the court begins impaneling a jury. This means choosing specific people from the community to serve, creating the official group that will hear the case and reach a verdict. But the word is not limited to the courtroom. It can also mean formally bringing together a panel, committee, or group of experts for a particular job. A government agency might impanel experts to look into a public health issue, for example. Think of it as the formal act of choosing and organizing a group for an official task.
To impanel someone means to formally select and seat them as a member of a jury or another official panel. The word originates from the Old French en painel, meaning "on a panel," which referred to the piece of parchment or "panel" where the names of jurors were listed. Historically, the act was quite literal: it was about writing someone's name onto that official document.
Today, while the word remains most common in legal settings—where a judge or clerk might announce, "We will now impanel the jury"—it has a broader application in professional and civic life. It signifies the deliberate act of assembling a group of people for a specific task, inquiry, or investigation.
For example: "The senator impaneled a commission to study the long-term effects of climate change." Or, "The court impaneled a jury for the trial." Using impanel instead of "choose" or "select" implies a formal, structured process, often suggesting that the group being formed has official authority or is expected to be fair and impartial. It is a word that carries the weight of official procedure, especially in legal trials, formal investigations, and similar high-stakes settings.
Examples
- 1
Court process
The court will impanel a jury next week.
- 2
Jury selection
It took two days to impanel twelve jurors and two alternates.
- 3
Official panel
The governor impaneled an independent panel to review the accident.
- Usage
In very formal English, impanel can also be used for other official panels, not just juries.
See also
Forms and spellings
9 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- impanelverb
Forms
- empanelledpast tensepast participleverb
- impaneledpast tenseverb
- empanelling-ing formverb
- empanelsverb
- impaneling-ing formverb
- impanelledpast tensepast participleverb
- impanelling-ing formverb
- impanelsverb