impeach

[ im-peech ]
See synonyms for impeach on Thesaurus.com
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.

  1. to bring an accusation against.

  2. to call in question; cast an imputation upon: to impeach a person's motives.

  3. to call to account.

noun
  1. Obsolete. impeachment.

Origin of impeach

1
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 pēsfoot) + -ā- thematic vowel + -re infinitive suffix

Other words for impeach

Other words from impeach

  • im·peach·er, noun
  • un·im·peached, adjective

Words Nearby impeach

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How to use impeach in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for impeach

impeach

/ (ɪmˈpiːtʃ) /


verb(tr)
  1. criminal law to bring a charge or accusation against

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

  1. mainly US to charge (a public official) with an offence committed in office

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

Origin of impeach

1
C14: from Old French empeechier, from Late Latin impedicāre to entangle, catch, from Latin im- (in) + pedica a fetter, from pēs foot

Derived forms of impeach

  • impeacher, noun

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