indictment

[ in-dahyt-muhnt ]

/ ɪnˈdaɪt mənt /

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noun

Law. a formal accusation initiating a criminal case, presented by a grand jury and usually required for felonies and other serious crimes.

any charge, accusation, serious criticism, or cause for blame.

the state of being indicted.

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Origin of indictment

First recorded in 1275–1325; indict + -ment; replacing Middle English enditement, from Anglo-French (see indite)

OTHER WORDS FROM indictment

non·in·dict·ment, nounre·in·dict·ment, nounsu·per·in·dict·ment, noun

Words nearby indictment

indicolite, indict, indictable, indicted, indiction, indictment, indie, Indienne, Indies, indifference, indifferency

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

MORE ABOUT INDICTMENT

What does indictment mean?

An indictment is an official accusation stating that a person is being charged with a crime and that a criminal trial will be held.

An indictment is the final step in the evidence-gathering process before a person is put on trial for a serious crime, especially a felony. 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.

Indictment can also be used in a more general way, outside of a legal context, to mean an accusation, strong criticism, or something that has the effect of revealing something as being deserving of criticism.

Indictment is a noun form of the verb indict, which can be used in the sense of making formal criminal charges or in the more general sense of accusing or criticizing.

Example: According to the indictment, the suspect is being charged with armed robbery.

Where does indictment come from?

The first records of the word indictment come from around 1300. Its base word, indict, comes from the Latin indīctus, a form of the verb indīcere, meaning “to announce” or “to proclaim.”

An indictment is a formal announcement officially accusing someone of a crime. An indictment is issued only after a prosecutor and a grand jury have determined that police investigators have gathered enough evidence to charge someone with a crime. In the U.S. and the U.K., the law requires an indictment in order to charge someone with a serious crime or felony. This process is intended to ensure that a case only goes to trial if there is sufficient evidence.

Outside of the courtroom, indictment is often used in the context of strong criticism of serious wrongdoing, especially when it’s delivered in a formal way, as in Today’s opinion piece is a serious indictment of the administration. In this sense, an indictment isn’t always a statement—someone’s bad behavior could be an indictment of their character.

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What are some other forms related to indictment?

nonindictment (noun)
reindictment (noun)
superindictment (noun)
indict (verb)

What are some synonyms for indictment?

What are some words that share a root or word element with indictment?

What are some words that often get used in discussing indictment?

How is indictment used in real life?

Indictments usually involve serious crimes or wrongdoing. High-profile criminal indictments often make the news.

According to the indictment, Cobra's president provided FEMA's regional administrator with personal helicopter use, hotel accommodations, airfare, personal security services, and the use of a credit card in exchange for influence to receive power restoration work.

— Ari Natter (@AriNatter) September 10, 2019

This article is a strong indictment of the illusion of meritocracy. https://t.co/B4qD38L3Ef

— Dr. Mansa Keita (@rasmansa) May 23, 2019

The number of people who think that Revenge of the Sith is one of the best Star Wars movies is a stunning indictment of Star Wars.

— colette arrand (@colettearrand) December 21, 2019

Try using indictment!

True or False?

An indictment is presented at the end of a criminal trial.

How to use indictment in a sentence

Using the traditional elements of the classic horror movie in exciting new ways, “Get Out” is a searing indictment of American racism.
FROM THE VAULTS – Straight, but not narrow|Brian T. Carney|September 11, 2020|Washington Blade
For instance, even in 1974 there were unique circumstances, like one incumbent losing because he was under indictment on bribery charges.
Ed Markey Won, But It’s Still Been A Rough Year For Incumbents|Nathaniel Rakich (nathaniel.rakich@fivethirtyeight.com)|September 2, 2020|FiveThirtyEight
The gang was so successful, according to the indictment, that Kriuchkov said the Tesla scheme would have to be delayed while most of its attention was on another ransomware victim.
How a $1 million plot to hack Tesla failed|Patrick O'Neill|August 28, 2020|MIT Technology Review
The effort ultimately raised over $25 million after promising — falsely, the indictment alleges — that the donations would not benefit Kolfage.
Federal Prosecutors Have Steve Bannon’s Murky Nonprofit in Their Sights|by Yeganeh Torbati|August 24, 2020|ProPublica

The indictment is not the only legal trouble for the organization.
Private Border Wall Fundraisers Have Been Arrested on Fraud Charges|by Perla Trevizo, Jeremy Schwartz and Lexi Churchill|August 20, 2020|ProPublica
The 2001 grand jury indictment named 21 suspects as being involved in the U.S. embassy bombings, including Osama bin Laden.
Final Chapter for Accused Africa Bomber|Jamie Dettmer|January 4, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Good for her—but what a shameful indictment of Planet Fashion.
One Vogue Cover Doesn’t Solve Fashion’s Big Race Problem|Danielle Belton|January 2, 2015|DAILY BEAST
According to the indictment, it is part of a network of Latino gangs controlled by La Eme.
The Mexican Mafia Is the Daddy of All Street Gangs|Seth Ferranti|December 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The cry that rose up into the night signaled a moral indictment no matter what the grand jury had said.
‘I Can’t Breathe!’ ‘I Can’t Breathe!’ A Moral Indictment of Cop Culture|Michael Daly|December 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The result is that Dingle now faces a 23-count federal indictment.
Obama’s Golf Buddy May Be a ‘Hostile Witness’ in Chicago Corruption Case|Ben Jacobs|December 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The sharpened faculties have something of a lawyer's quickness in detecting a flaw in the indictment.
Children's Ways|James Sully
You could have cleared me easily enough by dropping the case, or making your investigations before ever an indictment was issued.
The White Desert|Courtney Ryley Cooper
The obvious resource, therefore, was to obtain a writ of certiorari removing our indictment to the superior court.
Reminiscences of Charles Bradlaugh|George W. Foote
Manin's indictment aimed equally at the use of the knife in popular insurrections.
The Life of Mazzini|Bolton King
They have lost the right of being previously furnished with a copy of the indictment, and a list of the government witnesses.
Select Speeches of Daniel Webster|Daniel Webster

British Dictionary definitions for indictment

indictment

/ (ɪnˈdaɪtmənt) /

noun criminal law

a formal written charge of crime formerly referred to and presented on oath by a grand jury

any formal accusation of crime

Scot a charge of crime brought at the instance of the Lord Advocate

the act of indicting or the state of being indicted

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Cultural definitions for indictment

indictment

[ (in-deyet-muhnt) ]

A formal accusation of a crime, presented to the accused party after the charges have been considered by a grand jury.

indictment

Origin of indictment

OTHER WORDS FROM indictment

Words nearby indictment

MORE ABOUT INDICTMENT

What does indictment mean?

Where does indictment come from?

Did you know ... ?

How is indictment used in real life?

Try using indictment!

Words related to indictment

How to use indictment in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for indictment

Cultural definitions for indictment