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

George Alexander Aranda, Edwin Michael Alva and Christopher Arreola Alvarado were indicted on charges of conspiracy to distribute at least 400 grams of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl and methamphetamine. —Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 26 Apr. 2024

Arizona indictments:Grand jury indicts fake electors who falsely certified Donald Trump as 2020 winner Who selects the electors? —The Arizona Republic, 25 Apr. 2024

Webb was indicted for Alex’s murder last October, CBS News reported. —Sean Neumann, Peoplemag, 24 Apr. 2024

Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith indicted Trump last August on four charges, to which he’s pleaded not guilty. —USA TODAY, 24 Apr. 2024

Read the Arizona Election Indictment Arizona on Wednesday indicted Rudolph W. Giuliani, Mark Meadows and a number of others who advised Donald J. Trump during the 2020 election, as well as the fake electors who acted on Mr. Trump’s behalf to try to keep him in power despite his loss in the state. —Maggie Haberman, New York Times, 24 Apr. 2024

Trump, who served as president from 2017 to 2021, is running for a second term despite having been impeached twice and indicted in several states on felony counts including falsifying business records, mishandling classified documents, conspiracy and racketeering. —Katcy Stephan, Variety, 23 Apr. 2024

Two months later, he was indicted on the charge of second-degree murder in Kathie’s killing. —Jackie Strause, The Hollywood Reporter, 23 Apr. 2024

Federal prosecutors in 2005 indicted W. R. Grace and executives from the company on criminal charges over the contamination in Libby. —Amy Beth Hanson, Fortune, 23 Apr. 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