indictable

[in-dahy-tuh-buhl]

adjective

1. liable to being indicted, as a person.

2. making a person liable to indictment, as an offense.

Other Word Forms

• indictability noun
• indictably adverb
• nonindictable adjective
• unindictable adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of indictable¹

First recorded in 1700–10; indict + -able

Example Sentences

He is charged with murder and other offences including possession of an offensive weapon, namely a knife, with intent to commit an indictable offence and possession of a class C drug on the 3 November.

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Under English and Welsh law, a citizen's arrest can only be used for an "indictable" offence - a serious crime tried at the Crown Court.

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The man is also charged with possession of an offensive weapon with intent to commit an indictable offence.

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Official figures show that offenders from ethnic minorities consistently get longer sentences than white offenders for indictable offences.

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McSweeney is charged with encouraging or assisting the commission of an indictable offence.

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Related Words

• corrupt 
• deplorable 
• illegal 
• illegitimate 
• illicit 
• scandalous 
• senseless 
• unlawful 
• vicious 

When To Use

What does indictable mean?

Indictable is an adjective used to describe a crime for which someone can be or is likely to be indicted—officially charged in a way that makes them subject to a criminal trial.It’s especially used in the phrase indictable offense, referring to a serious crime.Indictable can also be used to describe a person who has committed such a crime (or has been suspected of committing it).Indicting a suspect is the final step in the evidence-gathering process before a person is put on trial for a serious crime, especially a felony. The official announcement of this accusation is called an indictment. In the U.S., such indictments are presented by a grand jury—the group of people responsible for determining whether there is enough evidence of a crime for a suspect to be put on trial.Indict can also be used in a more general way, outside of a legal context, to mean to accuse or strongly criticize, or to reveal something as being deserving of criticism.The term unindictable is especially used in this sense to describe someone or their behavior as unable to be criticized due to being completely free of wrongdoing.Example: If this turns out to be true, it’s an indictable offense, and I expect the case to go to trial.