impeach

American  

[im-peech] / ɪmˈpitʃ /

verb (used with object)

1. to accuse (a public official) before an appropriate tribunal of misconduct in office.

2. Chiefly Law. to challenge the credibility of.

   to impeach a witness.

3. to bring an accusation against.

4. to call in question; cast an imputation upon.

   to impeach a person's motives.

   Synonyms:

   impugn, challenge, question

5. to call to account.

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noun

1. Obsolete. impeachment.

impeach British  

/ ɪmˈpiːtʃ /

verb

1. criminal law to bring a charge or accusation against

2. criminal law to accuse of a crime, esp of treason or some other offence against the state

3. to charge (a public official) with an offence committed in office

4. to challenge or question (a person's honesty, integrity, etc)

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Usage

What does impeach mean? Impeach means to formally accuse a public official of misconduct committed while in office. The act or process of impeaching or the state of being impeached is called impeachment. An offense that is cause for someone to be impeached can be called an impeachable offense. In the U. S., the word impeach is closely associated with the act of officially bringing charges of misconduct against a sitting president (though other federal officials can be impeached). Impeaching an official is not the same as convicting them or removing them from office—to impeach is simply to formally present charges against them. Under U. S. law (specifically Article I of the Constitution), the House of Representatives has the power to formally accuse federal officials of misconduct by impeaching them. According to the Constitution, an official can be impeached if they are alleged to have committed treason, bribery, or “other high crimes and misdemeanors” (this vague term covers a number of offenses but is the subject of debate). If the House votes to impeach, the Senate then conducts an impeachment trial. In order for the person to be found guilty, two-thirds of the Senate must vote in favor of conviction. If found guilty, the official is removed from office (and may be forbidden from holding political office again, depending on the ruling of the Senate). In a more general legal context, to impeach a witness is to question their credibility. The word impeach can also be used in a more general way meaning to call into question, as in How can you impeach my motives if you don’t know me? It can also mean to challenge or call to account, as in We must impeach such behavior, not condone it. Example: Representatives have said they will impeach the president if he refuses to resign.

Other Word Forms

• impeacher noun
• unimpeached adjective

Etymology

Origin of impeach

1350–1400; Middle English empechen, enpeshen < Anglo-French empecher < Late Latin impedicāre to fetter, trap, equivalent to Latin im- im- ¹ + pedic ( a ) a fetter (derivative of pēs foot ) + -ā- thematic vowel + -re infinitive suffix

Explanation

Impeach means to charge someone with doing something wrong, specifically a high government official, such as the U.S. president, a senator, or a federal judge. Fortunately, very few presidents have had the dishonor of being impeached. If you impeach a president, you charge him or her with a crime. Congress may vote to impeach a president, but being impeached is only the first step in removing an official from office. Impeach comes from the Latin impedicare, meaning "catch, entangle." To impeach also means to cast doubt on someone's character. In a courtroom, a lawyer could impeach the credibility of a witness in order to discredit whatever that person said.

Example Sentences

The pressing concern for the panel, however, was the ongoing efforts to impeach two federal judges.

From Salon • Feb. 28, 2026

As to whether those trying to impeach Boasberg and Boardman have validity, Vladeck said, “They don’t,” adding that assertions of “abuse” against the judges are “not true.”

From Salon • Feb. 28, 2026

Peru's Congress is set to consider Tuesday whether to impeach interim president Jose Jeri, the country's seventh head of state in 10 years, accused of the irregular hiring of several women in his government.

From Barron's • Feb. 17, 2026

Peru's Congress has voted to impeach interim President José Jerí just four months into his term for failing to disclose meetings with Chinese businessmen.

From BBC • Feb. 17, 2026

Russo told reporters he was going to turn his attention to the effort to impeach President Nixon.

From "Most Dangerous: Daniel Ellsberg and the Secret History of the Vietnam War" by Steve Sheinkin

Related Words

• accuse
• arraign
• criticize
• discredit
• indict
• reprimand