A peremptory challenge is a legal term used in jury selection that allows attorneys to reject a certain number of potential jurors without providing a reason. Each side in a trial, such as the prosecution and defense, is typically allotted a specific number of these challenges. This process helps ensure that both parties can shape a jury that they believe will be more favorable to their case. Unlike challenges for cause, which require a valid reason to dismiss a juror, peremptory challenges are more about strategy. Attorneys may use them to eliminate jurors they feel may be biased or unsympathetic, even if there is no explicit evidence of prejudice.