acquittal

American  

[uh-kwit-l] / əˈkwɪt l /

noun

1. the act of acquitting; discharge.

2. the state of being acquitted; release.

3. the discharge or settlement of a debt, obligation, etc.

4. Law. judicial deliverance from a criminal charge on a verdict or finding of not guilty.

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acquittal Cultural  

1. The judgment of a court that a person charged with a crime is not guilty.

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Other Word Forms

• nonacquittal noun
• preacquittal noun
• proacquittal adjective

Etymology

Origin of acquittal

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English a(c)quitaille, from Anglo-French; equivalent to acquit + -al ²

Example Sentences

In another high-profile case, Pollack obtained the acquittal of a former Enron accountant who was facing criminal fraud charges stemming from the collapse of the energy giant.

From Barron's

But a jury found the charges against him not proven - one of two verdicts of acquittal which could be returned in criminal trials in Scotland.

From BBC

A 2024 law allows the accused a way out of a criminal conviction if they join up - an attractive option in a country with an acquittal rate of less than 1%.

From BBC

Earlier this year, Jackson secured an acquittal on second-degree murder charges for Karen Read, who was charged with killing her boyfriend, a Boston police officer.

From Los Angeles Times

In Los Angeles, court records show federal prosecutors have charged 71 people with assault on a federal officer this year, with 21 of those cases ending in dismissals or acquittals.

From Los Angeles Times