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indictment
/ ɪnˈdaɪtmənt /
noun
- a formal written charge of crime formerly referred to and presented on oath by a grand jury
- any formal accusation of crime
- a charge of crime brought at the instance of the Lord Advocate
- the act of indicting or the state of being indicted
indictment
- A formal accusation of a crime, presented to the accused party after the charges have been considered by a grand jury .
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Other Words From
- non·in·dict·ment noun
- re·in·dict·ment noun
- su·per·in·dict·ment noun
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Word History and Origins
Origin of indictment1
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Example Sentences
Using the traditional elements of the classic horror movie in exciting new ways, “Get Out” is a searing indictment of American racism.
For instance, even in 1974 there were unique circumstances, like one incumbent losing because he was under indictment on bribery charges.
The gang was so successful, according to the indictment, that Kriuchkov said the Tesla scheme would have to be delayed while most of its attention was on another ransomware victim.
The effort ultimately raised over $25 million after promising — falsely, the indictment alleges — that the donations would not benefit Kolfage.
The indictment is not the only legal trouble for the organization.
The 2001 grand jury indictment named 21 suspects as being involved in the U.S. embassy bombings, including Osama bin Laden.
Good for her—but what a shameful indictment of Planet Fashion.
According to the indictment, it is part of a network of Latino gangs controlled by La Eme.
The cry that rose up into the night signaled a moral indictment no matter what the grand jury had said.
The result is that Dingle now faces a 23-count federal indictment.
The sharpened faculties have something of a lawyer's quickness in detecting a flaw in the indictment.
You could have cleared me easily enough by dropping the case, or making your investigations before ever an indictment was issued.
The obvious resource, therefore, was to obtain a writ of certiorari removing our indictment to the superior court.
Manin's indictment aimed equally at the use of the knife in popular insurrections.
They have lost the right of being previously furnished with a copy of the indictment, and a list of the government witnesses.
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Related Words
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More About Indictment
What does indictment mean?
An indictment is an official accusation stating that a person is being charged with a crime and that a criminal trial will be held.
An indictment is the final step in the evidence-gathering process before a person is put on trial for a serious crime, especially a felony. In the U.S., such indictments are presented by a grand jury—the group of people responsible for determining whether there is enough evidence of a crime for a suspect to be put on trial.
Indictment can also be used in a more general way, outside of a legal context, to mean an accusation, strong criticism, or something that has the effect of revealing something as being deserving of criticism.
Indictment is a noun form of the verb indict, which can be used in the sense of making formal criminal charges or in the more general sense of accusing or criticizing.
Example: According to the indictment, the suspect is being charged with armed robbery.
Where does indictment come from?
The first records of the word indictment come from around 1300. Its base word, indict, comes from the Latin indīctus, a form of the verb indīcere, meaning “to announce” or “to proclaim.”
An indictment is a formal announcement officially accusing someone of a crime. An indictment is issued only after a prosecutor and a grand jury have determined that police investigators have gathered enough evidence to charge someone with a crime. In the U.S. and the U.K., the law requires an indictment in order to charge someone with a serious crime or felony. This process is intended to ensure that a case only goes to trial if there is sufficient evidence.
Outside of the courtroom, indictment is often used in the context of strong criticism of serious wrongdoing, especially when it’s delivered in a formal way, as in Today’s opinion piece is a serious indictment of the administration. In this sense, an indictment isn’t always a statement—someone’s bad behavior could be an indictment of their character.
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What are some other forms related to indictment?
- nonindictment (noun)
- reindictment (noun)
- superindictment (noun)
- indict (verb)
What are some synonyms for indictment?
What are some words that share a root or word element with indictment?
What are some words that often get used in discussing indictment?
How is indictment used in real life?
Indictments usually involve serious crimes or wrongdoing. High-profile criminal indictments often make the news.
According to the indictment, Cobra's president provided FEMA's regional administrator with personal helicopter use, hotel accommodations, airfare, personal security services, and the use of a credit card in exchange for influence to receive power restoration work.
— Ari Natter (@AriNatter) September 10, 2019
This article is a strong indictment of the illusion of meritocracy. https://t.co/B4qD38L3Ef
— Dr. Mansa Keita (@rasmansa) May 23, 2019
The number of people who think that Revenge of the Sith is one of the best Star Wars movies is a stunning indictment of Star Wars.
— colette arrand (@colettearrand) December 21, 2019
Try using indictment!
True or False?
An indictment is presented at the end of a criminal trial.
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