以上這些術(shù)語均有訴訟出庭通知或傳票的含義。其中， process等同一般術(shù)語(general term),概念較寬，可用作指法院簽發(fā)的有關(guān)訴訟的各種通知，如訴訟通知書、傳票，出庭通知等[1] 。而subpoena則用于傳喚證人以在審判時提供證詞、書證等，而不是傳喚訴訟當(dāng)事人出庭的文件，故其應(yīng)為“出庭通知”[2]。summons主要用于傳喚訴訟當(dāng)事人故其為“傳票”[3] (盡管在有些美國法律詞典說其也可用于指傳喚證人出庭佐證的 “出庭通知”[4])。在加拿大和英國，人們常用summons to witness 來替代subpoena指傳喚證人或證據(jù)的“出庭通知”[5]。writ of summons (傳票）和writ of subpoena (出庭通知）一般在加拿大和英國等地適用，writ (or writ of summons)與summons的差別在于后者多用于較低級的法院，如小額索賠法院（small claim court)、郡法院等，而前者則用于高等法院、最高法院等[6]。citation 主要為蘇格蘭用語， 主要指傳喚證人或證據(jù)，故為“出庭通知”[7]。

[1 ] “ A formal document through which a court obtains jurisdiction over a person or property，compels a person to appear in court or participate in a proceeding，or otherwise orders a person to do or not to do something； e. g.，a summons, a writ of attachment, or a subpoena. ”Cf. James E. Clapp, Random House Webster's Dictionary of the Law, at p. 343， Random House, New York (2000).

[2 ] “A subpoena is a document to appear at a certain time and place to give testimony upon a certain matter. A subpoena duces tecum requires production of books, papers and other things. " Cf. The publishers Editorial Staff, Black’s Law Dictionary, abridged 6th edition, at p. 995, West Publishing Co. (1991).

[3] “A process directing a defendant to appear in court to answer a civil complaint ora criminal charge. ” Cf. James E. Clapp, Random House Websters Dictionary of the Law, at p. 419，Random House, New York (2000). “Official command from a court requiring someone to appear in court to be tried for a criminal offense or to defend a civil action. ” Cf. P. H. Collin, Dictionary of Law, 2nd edition, at p. 536，Peter Collin Publishing (1995).