noun
indictment
in-DYTE-muhnt/ɪnˈdaɪtmənt/
A formal statement accusing someone of criminal wrongdoing.
The prosecutor presents an indictment against the defendant in court.
Etymology
Built on a verb meaning “accuse,” the noun first named the act of accusing. It then came to name the formal legal document containing the charge.
In context
an indictment is a prosecutor-driven formal charge after investigation
More examples
- The grand jury returns an indictment charging the mayor with bribery.
- The indictment lists three counts of tax fraud.
- The judge dismissed both indictments because of procedural errors.
Forms
indictment · indictments
indict verb — To formally accuse someone of a crime.
Similar words
- charge
- A criminal accusation that need not come from a grand jury.
- accusation
- Can be informal and need not involve a crime.