presentment

noun

pre·​sent·​ment pri-ˈzent-mənt How to pronounce presentment (audio)
1
: the act of presenting to an authority a formal statement of a matter to be dealt with
specifically : the notice taken or statement made by a grand jury of an offense from their own knowledge without a bill of indictment laid before them
2
: the act of offering at the proper time and place a document (such as a bill of exchange) that calls for acceptance or payment by another
3
a
: the act of presenting to view or consciousness
b
: something set forth, presented, or exhibited
c
: the aspect in which something is presented

Examples of presentment in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web With no murder weapon and no trace of the getaway car, the 2023 presentment before the Clark County, Nevada, grand jury was missing traditional physical evidence. John L. Smith, Rolling Stone, 25 Jan. 2024 According to a grand jury presentment, Cabot Oil & Gas leased mineral rights from residents in Dimock beginning in 2006, and shortly after natural-gas drilling began residents complained about changes to their drinking water, including discoloration and foul odors. Kris Maher, WSJ, 29 Nov. 2022 The presentment said the grand jury heard testimony from Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd, Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey and Bill Gladson, the state attorney in the 5th Judicial Circuit, which is made up of Citrus, Hernando, Lake, Marion and Sumter counties. Jim Saunders, Sun Sentinel, 9 Dec. 2022 There is no plea entered at a presentment. Andrew C. McCarthy, National Review, 25 Mar. 2021 Mendoza was also charged with voluntary manslaughter and other charges, according to a grand jury presentment unsealed Monday. Claudia Lauer, ajc, 2 May 2022 When a suspect is arrested for a violent crime before formal charges have been filed, the first court appearance is technically a presentment, not an arraignment (even though it’s often misdescribed as the latter). Andrew C. McCarthy, National Review, 25 Mar. 2021 Mendoza was charged in the presentment with first-degree murder, third-degree murder, voluntary manslaughter and possession of an instrument of crime with intent to use it criminally, said Krasner. Eric Levenson and Melissa Alonso, CNN, 2 May 2022 In announcing the charges, Krasner cited a presentment, or formal charging document, by a grand jury that was based on unreleased video of the shooting. Eric Levenson and Melissa Alonso, CNN, 2 May 2022

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'presentment.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of presentment was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near presentment

Cite this Entry

“Presentment.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/presentment. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

presentment

noun
pre·​sent·​ment pri-ˈzent-mənt How to pronounce presentment (audio)
: the act of presenting to an authority a statement of the matter to be dealt with
a presentment returned by a grand jury

Legal Definition

presentment

noun
pre·​sent·​ment pri-ˈzent-mənt How to pronounce presentment (audio)
1
: the act of presenting to an authority a formal statement of a matter to be dealt with
specifically : the notice or accusation of an offense by a grand jury on the initiative of the jury members or on the basis of their own knowledge without a bill of indictment laid before them
2
: the act of producing or offering at the proper place and time a document (as a negotiable instrument) that calls for acceptance and payment by another : a demand for payment of an instrument upon a party liable for payment on behalf of the holder

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