Acquitted: meaning, definitions and examples
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acquitted
[ əˈkwɪtɪd ]
legal context
To acquit someone means to officially declare them not guilty of a criminal charge. This decision is typically made by a judge or jury after reviewing the evidence presented during a trial. An acquittal can lead to the individual's release if they were in custody. The term is significant in the legal system, as it reflects the principle that a person is presumed innocent until proven guilty. An acquittal does not imply that the person was innocent; it simply indicates that the prosecution did not meet the burden of proof required for a conviction.
Synonyms
Examples of usage
- The jury acquitted him after three days of deliberation.
- She was acquitted of all charges, proving her innocence.
- The judge acquitted the defendant due to lack of evidence.
Translations
Translations of the word "acquitted" in other languages:
🇵🇹 absolvido
🇮🇳 मुक्त
🇩🇪 freigesprochen
🇮🇩 dibebaskan
🇺🇦 виправданий
🇵🇱 uniewinniony
🇯🇵 無罪放免された
🇫🇷 acquitté
🇪🇸 absuelto
🇹🇷 aklanmış
🇰🇷 무죄로 석방된
🇸🇦 برأ
🇨🇿 zproštěn
🇸🇰 oslobodený
🇨🇳 无罪释放
🇸🇮 opravičen
🇮🇸 sýkna
🇰🇿 ақталды
🇬🇪 გამართლებული
🇦🇿 qurtulmuş
🇲🇽 absuelto
Etymology
The word 'acquitted' has its origins from the Latin term 'acquitare', which means 'to release or to set free'. This Latin root combines 'ad-', meaning 'to', and 'quietare', which means 'to make quiet or to calm'. Over time, the term evolved through Old French before entering the English language in the late 14th century. In legal terminology, 'acquit' originally referred to the process of making someone free from a charge or obligation, which has remained consistent throughout its history. The concept of acquittal is foundational in legal systems, emphasizing the protection of individual rights and the presumption of innocence in criminal proceedings.