attainder

American  

[uh-teyn-der] / əˈteɪn dər /

noun

1. the legal consequence of judgment of death or outlawry for treason or felony, involving the loss of all civil rights.

2. Obsolete. dishonor.

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attainder British  

/ əˈteɪndə /

noun

1. (formerly) the extinction of a person's civil rights resulting from a sentence of death or outlawry on conviction for treason or felony See also bill of attainder

2. obsolete dishonour

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Etymology

Origin of attainder

First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English attaynder, atteindor, noun use of Old French ataindre, ateindre “to attain, touch (upon), affect, convict”; attain

Example Sentences

And the Supreme Court may not see this law as a bill of attainder either.

From Slate • Jul. 29, 2025

That is the process the bill of attainder tells us is the appropriate one for investigation, prosecution, and punishment, with all of the attributes of that branch.

From Slate • Oct. 6, 2023

And as for a retroactive attainder aimed at the descendants of slave owners, that one is pretty tricky, too.

From Fox News • Aug. 19, 2019

The Framers wrote the ban on bills of attainder into the Constitution because Parliament and several of the colonial legislatures had passed many such bills.

From Textbooks • Jan. 1, 2016

Garnett 164, proposes 8 Jesuits for attainder by Parliament 164, his speech at Fr.

From The Condition of Catholics Under James I. by Gerard, John