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 British  

/ əˈkwɪtəl /

noun

1. criminal law the deliverance and release of a person appearing before a court on a charge of crime, as by a finding of not guilty

2. a discharge or release from an obligation, duty, debt, etc

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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

Explanation

Acquittal is a legal word that defendants love to hear because it means "not guilty." In the 15th Century, an acquittal referred to the payment of a debt, but now it means being freed of charges against you in court. In fact, now the word is really used only in a legal sense. It's from the Latin ad "to" plus quitare meaning "set free." Getting an acquittal is still like being set free. Free to do what you want, any old time! So now the only time you'll need the word is in court, and it's one word you hope to hear if you've been busted.

Example Sentences

Judge Summers responded to what’s ordinarily a pro forma motion before handing the case to the jury and, instead, issued what’s known as a directed verdict of acquittal, ending the case single-handedly, then and there.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 1, 2026

But for the victims' families, the ruling has fallen short of their expectations of justice, with the acquittal of more than half of the accused being a key concern.

From BBC • Apr. 23, 2026

Seeing virtually no hope of acquittal, Brown’s attorneys were desperate to preserve the possibility of commutation.

From Slate • Apr. 2, 2026

The prosecution was dropped in October 2008 after a jury split 10-2 in favor of acquittal.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 5, 2026

They acquitted Orestes, and with the words of acquittal the spirit of evil which had haunted his house for so long was banished.

From "Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes" by Edith Hamilton