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Indictment: meaning, definitions and examples

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indictment

 

[ ɪnˈdaɪtmənt ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

legal term

An indictment is a formal accusation that a person has committed a crime. In the United States, an indictment is typically issued by a grand jury based upon a proposed charge presented by a prosecutor. It serves as a means to bring the accused to trial.

Synonyms

accusation, allegation, charge.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
indictment

Used in legal contexts when someone is formally charged with a serious crime by a grand jury.

  • The grand jury issued an indictment against the suspect for fraud.
  • He is currently facing an indictment for embezzlement.
charge

Used when someone is officially accused of a crime by the police. It often implies legal proceedings are imminent.

  • The man was arrested and charged with theft.
  • She faces several charges, including assault and battery.
accusation

Generally used when someone is claiming that another person has done something wrong or illegal, not necessarily in formal legal contexts.

  • She made an accusation that her coworker had stolen her idea.
  • The teacher faced accusations of favoritism from several students.
allegation

Often used to describe an unproven claim or assertion, typically one that's serious or damaging. Can be used in both legal and non-legal contexts.

  • The allegations against the politician have not been proven in court.
  • He denied the allegations of misconduct.

Examples of usage

  • The grand jury returned an indictment against the suspect.
  • The prosecutor presented the indictment in court.

Translations

Translations of the word "indictment" in other languages:

🇵🇹 acusação

🇮🇳 अभियोग

🇩🇪 Anklage

🇮🇩 dakwaan

🇺🇦 обвинувачення

🇵🇱 akt oskarżenia

🇯🇵 起訴

🇫🇷 acte d'accusation

🇪🇸 acusación

🇹🇷 suçlama

🇰🇷 기소

🇸🇦 اتهام

🇨🇿 obžaloba

🇸🇰 obžaloba

🇨🇳 起诉书

🇸🇮 obtožnica

🇮🇸 ákæra

🇰🇿 айыптау

🇬🇪 ბრალდება

🇦🇿 ittiham

🇲🇽 acusación

Etymology

The word 'indictment' originated from the Latin word 'indictare', which means 'to declare'. The concept of indictments dates back to ancient Roman law, where individuals were formally accused of crimes through a similar process. Over time, the practice of issuing indictments became a common legal procedure in many countries, including the United States.

See also: indict.

Word Frequency Rank

At #5,355 in frequency, this word belongs to advanced vocabulary. It's less common than core vocabulary but important for sophisticated expression.