arraignment

American  

[uh-reyn-muhnt] / əˈreɪn mənt /

noun

• arraignments
  plural

1. Law. an act or instance of bringing someone before a criminal court to hear an indictment, or formal charge, against them and to enter a plea in response to that charge.

   At her arraignment Crane pleaded not guilty, and the trial was set for May 21.

2. a calling into question or a finding fault, especially with respect to the value or virtue of something; critical examination.

   In his arraignment of the basic weaknesses in the nation's social fabric, he drew special attention to racism.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• nonarraignment
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• arraignments
  plural

Etymology

Origin of arraignment

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English arainement, from Middle French araisnement; equivalent to arraign + -ment

Explanation

If the police think you pulled a diamond heist, and they have enough evidence to charge you with that crime, you'll be called to court for your arraignment, when you can plead guilty or not guilty. The trial comes next. Arraignment comes from the French word aresnier, which means to address, or speak reasonably. It's almost only used in the legal sense as answering for yourself, or pleading, "guilty" or "not guilty." The verb arraign means to call someone before the court to answer an accusation (called in legal speak, an indictment), so an arraignment is either the piece of paper that calls you to court, or the hearing in which that charge is read to you.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

arraignment arraignments

York pleaded no contest to both charges at an arraignment hearing and was found guilty.

From BBC ● Aug. 25, 2026

The charges against Morales could change at arraignment.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 24, 2026

If they succeed, Robinson would move to an arraignment and enter a formal plea on each of the charges.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 9, 2026

Church pleaded not guilty to all charges at an arraignment last month, authorities said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 6, 2026

She showed up early at Richie’s arraignment the next day and took a seat right behind the defense table.

From "The Color of Water: A Black Man's Tribute to His White Mother" by James McBride

“We had 29 arraignments set for this afternoon — we’re only filing motions to keep two people in,” Jenkins said in an interview Wednesday morning.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 29, 2026

Mark Sanders, 27, of Tracy, and Allen Starr Brown, 28, of Chico, appeared in an Alameda County courtroom but waived their arraignments.

From Seattle Times ● Jan. 4, 2024

Lawyer Sidney Powell and publicist Trevian Kutti did not appear in person for their arraignments.

From Washington Times ● Aug. 30, 2023

In the Georgia case, Willis has requested that arraignments begin the week of Sept. 5, though defendants in Georgia are permitted to waive those appearances and plead not guilty via court filing.

From Reuters ● Aug. 25, 2023

Lord Stratford de Redcliffe, Gladstone, John Bright, Carlyle, Freeman, made powerful arraignments of the government which was the supporter and made England the accomplice of Turkey in this crime.

From A Short History of Russia by Mary Platt Parmele

Related Words

• indictment