acquittal

ac·quit·tal   (ə-kwĭt'l)    n.   Judgment, as by a jury or judge, that a defendant is not guilty of a crime as charged. The state of being found or proved not guilty.

acquittal

The judgment of a court that a person charged with a crime is not guilty.

Main Entry: ac·quit·tal
Pronunciation: &-'kwit-^&l
Function: noun
1 : release or discharge from debt or other liability
2 : a setting free or deliverance from the charge of an offense by verdict of a jury, judgment of a court, or other legal process —see also IMPLIED ACQUITTAL judgment of acquittal at JUDGMENT 1a —compare CONVICTION

acquittal

in criminal law, acknowledgment by the court of the innocence of the defendant or defendants. Such a judgment may be made by a jury in a trial or by a judge who rules that there is insufficient evidence either for conviction or for further proceedings. An acquittal removes all guilt in law. An acquittal "in fact" occurs when a jury finds the defendant not guilty. An acquittal "in law" occurs through the mere operation of law. For instance, if the principal in a case is acquitted, an accessory also is deemed acquitted in law

Learn more about acquittal with a free trial on Britannica.com.