Showing results for "accused"

• past tense form of accuse.
• past participle of accuse.

accused

American  

[uh-kyoozd] / əˈkjuzd /

adjective

1. charged with a crime, wrongdoing, fault, etc..

   the accused boy.

---

noun

1. Often the accused a person or persons charged in a court of law with a crime, offense, etc.

accused British  

/ əˈkjuːzd /

noun

1. law the defendant or defendants appearing on a criminal charge

---

Usage

What does accused mean? Accused is an adjective that means charged with a crime or other offense. Accused is also used as a noun to refer to a person or people who have been charged with a crime, often as the accused. To accuse someone of something means to say that they are guilty of it. This can happen in everyday situations, such as children accusing each other of not sharing. But accused is most used in the context of the criminal justice system to indicate that a person has been officially charged with a crime. Example: The accused was escorted in the courtroom by police.

Other Word Forms

• misaccused
  adjective
• self-accused
  adjective
• unaccused
  adjective

---

Etymology

Origin of accused

First recorded in 1585–95; accuse + -ed ²

---

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

accused

She’s Alive LLC dropped its lawsuit against Dolly Parton’s nephew, Bryan Seaver, who was accused of threatening the late singer’s business.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 6, 2026

The foreign ministry in Moscow has also accused Tokyo of systematically using journalists for espionage operations inside the country.

From Barron's ● Nov. 6, 2026

All seven of the accused have denied wrongdoing when contacted by the BBC's US partner CBS.

From BBC ● Nov. 6, 2026

Lawmakers accused Peña, who was a shareholder until last year in the company that owned the bank, of conflicts of interest and misconduct.

From BBC ● Nov. 5, 2026

“I haven’t accused you of anything,” Mr. Reardon said.

From "Found" by Margaret Peterson Haddix

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

---