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

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

An arraignment hearing has been scheduled for Aug. 4.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 8, 2026

If the judge finds prosecutors have enough evidence, Robinson would then proceed to an arraignment, where he would enter a formal plea for each of the charges.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 6, 2026

The second-year NFL player turned himself in Wednesday night and was held in a Hillsborough County jail without bond before his arraignment hearing Thursday afternoon.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 25, 2026

A veteran, he approached this stage of the process, the arraignment, with efficiency.

From "A Deadly Wandering: A Mystery, a Landmark Investigation, and the Astonishing Science of Attention in the Digital Age" by Matt Richtel

“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

The arrestees will be sent a summons for their court arraignments within four weeks, Moore said.

From Seattle Times ● Apr. 16, 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

At first they simply laughed at the arraignments of Peter Rathbawne as a plutocrat, a slave-master, and an oppressor of the poor, knowing better in their hearts.

From The Lieutenant-Governor A Novel by Carryl, Guy Wetmore

Related Words

• indictment