impeach

[im-peech]

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.

noun

1. Obsolete.,  impeachment.

impeach

/ 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)

Other Word Forms

• impeacher noun
• unimpeached adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of impeach¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of impeach¹

C14: from Old French empeechier, from Late Latin impedicāre to entangle, catch, from Latin _im- (in) + pedica a fetter, from pēs foot

Example Sentences

The decree means that Rajoelina -- who was impeached on October 14 after fleeing the island nation in the wake of weeks of protests -- would not be able to contest future elections.

Read more on Barron's

Cicero’s rhetoric would be echoed centuries later by Edmund Burke, who invoked Verres in his denunciation of Warren Hastings, the British governor general of India who was impeached for corruption in 1787.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Unpopular former president Dina Boluarte was impeached by Congress this month against a backdrop of mass demonstrations over her failure to tamp down crime.

Read more on Barron's

Somos Perú, which in the past had backed Boluarte, switched sides last week and joined the chorus of those demanding she be impeached.

Read more on BBC

It was a turning point in a youth-led uprising that started on September 25: Rajoelina fled the country that weekend, impeached days later for desertion of duty.

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

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

When To Use

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.