indict

verb

in·​dict in-ˈdīt 

indicted; indicting; indicts

transitive verb

1

: to charge with a crime by the finding or presentment of a jury (such as a grand jury) in due form of law

2

: to charge with a fault or offense : criticize, accuse

indicter noun

or indictor

in-ˈdī-tər 

Synonyms

• accuse
• charge
• criminate
• defame [archaic]
• impeach
• incriminate

Examples of indict in a Sentence

A grand jury is expected to indict him for murder.

the grand jury could indict the mayor for fraud and embezzlement

Recent Examples on the Web

Young Thug is standing trial with five other defendants who were indicted alongside him. —Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 12 June 2024

Also indicted were Nikki Jordan, 48, of Fort Worth, on trafficking and compelling prostitution charges and Anna Hudson, 42, of Mabank, on a trafficking charge. —Nicole Lopez, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 June 2024

Jose Uribe, a New Jersey insurance broker who was indicted with Menendez, pleaded guilty in March and confessed to buying a $60,000 luxury car to influence the senator. —Caitlin Yilek, CBS News, 7 June 2024

Hoffman, a Republican from Queen Creek, and 17 others were indicted by a grand jury in April in connection with a plan for Arizona's Republican electors to falsely proclaim Donald Trump won the state in 2020. —Stacey Barchenger, The Arizona Republic, 6 June 2024

Word History

Etymology

alteration of earlier indite, from Middle English inditen, from Anglo-French enditer to write, point out, indict — more at indite

First Known Use

1531, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Video

Video: Why Is There a 'C' in 'Indict'?

And who put it there, anyway?

Kids Definition

indict

verb

in·​dict in-ˈdīt 

: to charge with an offense or crime : accuse

indictable

-ə-bəl

adjective

Legal Definition

indict

transitive verb

in·​dict in-ˈdīt 

: to charge with a crime by the finding or presentment of a grand jury in due form of law compare accuse, arraign, charge

Etymology

alteration of earlier indite, from Anglo-French enditer, from Old French, to write down, ultimately from Latin indicere to proclaim, from in- toward + dicere to say