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

Derived Forms

• self-accused
  adjective
• unaccused
  adjective
• misaccused
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of accused

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

Example Sentences

And we know that death sentences are often reversed on appeal because of problems in the trials of someone accused of a capital crime.

From Slate • Jun. 8, 2026

“I eventually just got to the point where I didn’t think he was going to do anything,” said Fowler, who accused Bhakta’s German shepherd of killing his chickens.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 7, 2026

Some jokingly accused him of betraying his hometown team.

From Salon • Jun. 7, 2026

Panish, however, accused him of not disclosing information — including about a $237,000 withdrawal and an investment in an unidentified “billion-dollar” company.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 6, 2026

Mom accused of doing something wrong with money.

From "South of Somewhere" by Kalena Miller