accused

American  

[uh-kyoozd] / əˈkyuzd /

adjective

1. charged with a crime, wrongdoing, fault, etc..

   the accused boy.

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noun

1. Often the accused a person or persons charged in a court of law with a crime, offense, etc.

accused British  

/ əˈkjuːzd /

noun

1. law the defendant or defendants appearing on a criminal charge

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Usage

What does accused mean? Accused is an adjective that means charged with a crime or other offense. Accused is also used as a noun to refer to a person or people who have been charged with a crime, often as the accused. To accuse someone of something means to say that they are guilty of it. This can happen in everyday situations, such as children accusing each other of not sharing. But accused is most used in the context of the criminal justice system to indicate that a person has been officially charged with a crime. Example: The accused was escorted in the courtroom by police.

Other Word Forms

• misaccused
  adjective
• self-accused
  adjective
• unaccused
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of accused

First recorded in 1585–95; accuse + -ed ²

Example Sentences

Appeared in the October 9, 2025, print edition as 'Man Accused in Palisades Fire Is Arrested'.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 8, 2025

Accused of fraud after his company, Eutelia, declared bankruptcy in 2010, Landi and some of its executives were tried and convicted in Italy.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 28, 2025

Foster, who has previously won Oscars for her work in "The Accused" and "The Silence of the Lambs," has checked almost all of the boxes needed to get her EGOT.

From Salon • Sep. 16, 2024

Accused of conspiring to defraud a sports betting company, he’s due back in court Wednesday for a bail hearing.

From Seattle Times • Jun. 4, 2024

Accused each other of being smelly and rearranged again.

From "We Were Liars" by E. Lockhart