acquittal
noun
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Definition of acquittal
: a setting free from the charge of an offense by verdict, sentence, or other legal process
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Synonyms & Antonyms for acquittal
Synonyms
clearing, exculpation, exoneration, vindication
Antonyms
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Examples of acquittal in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
He was voted out the year of his acquittal in the election that brought Margaret Thatcher and the Conservative Party to power. — Elizabeth Angell, Town & Country, "A Very English Scandal," 29 June 2018 So to win Salman’s acquittal, Swift and his team convinced jurors that Mateen had chosen Pulse at random. — Tim Fitzsimons /, NBC News, "What really happened that night at Pulse," 12 June 2018 Following the acquittal, a mistrial was declared, according to the Associated Press, after the jury couldn't reach a verdict on a voluntary or involuntary manslaughter charge, the Republic reported. — Beatrice Dupuy, Teen Vogue, "The Border Patrol Agent Who Shot Jose Antonio Elena Rodriguez Was Found Not Guilty on Murder Charges," 24 Apr. 2018 But a second trial for four people in May ended in acquittals on most charges and a hung jury on the rest. — Washington Post, "Government drops charges against all inauguration protesters," 6 July 2018 The Department of Justice has reopened its investigation into the 1955 murder of Emmett Till, the 14-year-old whose vicious lynching and the subsequent acquittal of his killers became a flashpoint for the civil-rights movement. — Adam K. Raymond, Daily Intelligencer, "‘New Information’ Leads DOJ to Reopen Emmett Till Murder Case," 12 July 2018 One of Forward Through Ferguson’s uncomfortable conversations took place after the 2017 acquittal of a white former police officer who fatally shot and killed a 24-year old black man. — Charli Cooksey, Teen Vogue, "How to Have Uncomfortable Conversations," 10 July 2018 An arrest, an acquittal Almost 14 years to the day after the murder, authorities finally arrested Carpenter, citing a new analysis of the crime scene and blood and tissue evidence. — John D'anna, azcentral, "'Hogan's Heroes' star Bob Crane was murdered 40 years ago. Why does it still fascinate us?," 29 June 2018 In 1868, the impeachment trial of President Andrew Johnson ended with his acquittal on the remaining charges. — BostonGlobe.com, "This day in history," 26 May 2018These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'acquittal.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for acquittal
acquittal
noun
English Language Learners Definition of acquittal
: the act of deciding that a person is not guilty of a crime : the act of acquitting someone
See the full definition for acquittal in the English Language Learners Dictionary
acquittal
noun
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Kids Definition of acquittal
: the act of declaring someone innocent of a crime or wrongdoing
acquittal
noun
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Legal Definition of acquittal
1 : release or discharge from debt or other liability
2 : a setting free or deliverance from the charge of an offense by verdict of a jury, judgment of a court, or other legal process — see also implied acquittal, judgment of acquittal at judgment sense 1a — compare conviction
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