attainder

American  

[uh-tayn-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”; see origin at attain

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

attainder

Judge Talwani still saw the law as a bill of attainder.

From Slate ● Jul. 29, 2025

A bill of attainder is an unconstitutional legislative act that singles out an individual or group for punishment without a trial.

From Fox News ● Apr. 8, 2019

There are two other constitutional questions: First, the Constitution prohibits bills of attainder, laws that target specific individuals.

From Slate ● Apr. 17, 2018

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

Besides escheat for defect of heirs, there was formerly also escheat propter delictum tenentis, or by the corruption of the blood of the tenant through attainder consequent on conviction and sentence for treason or felony.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 9, Slice 7 "Equation" to "Ethics" by Various

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