acquittal

noun

ac·​quit·​tal ə-ˈkwi-tᵊl How to pronounce acquittal (audio)
: a setting free from the charge of an offense by verdict, sentence, or other legal process

Examples of acquittal in a Sentence

The case resulted in acquittal of the defendant. Several jurors voted for acquittal. The case resulted in an acquittal of the defendant.
Recent Examples on the Web Though McDuffie would die four days later, justice was never truly served as the acquittal of the four officers involved would spark the McDuffie Riots. C. Isaiah Smalls Ii, Miami Herald, 24 Feb. 2024 The judges also gestured to the political nature of Mr. Trump’s acquittal, including noting that 30 senators had justified their votes to acquit him on the grounds that his term in office had run out before the trial. Charlie Savage, New York Times, 6 Feb. 2024 The Senate’s acquittal of Trump at an impeachment trial charging him with citing the insurrection at the Capitol prevented him from being tried again for the same events, Sauer argued. USA TODAY, 30 Jan. 2024 Trump is invoking double jeopardy to argue that his acquittal by the Senate in his second impeachment trial, on a single count of inciting insurrection, means that no court can ever put him on trial again on charges even related to the same underlying set of facts. Amy Davidson Sorkin, The New Yorker, 17 Feb. 2024 His defense asked for his acquittal, or if found guilty a one-year sentence plus 50,000 euros compensation for the victim. Joseph Wilson, USA TODAY, 22 Feb. 2024 That could have resulted in an acquittal or a misdemeanor verdict, which would have meant a maximum of one year in jail. Katie Moore, Kansas City Star, 19 Feb. 2024 Joel Smithers, a Virginia doctor originally sentenced to 40 years for prescribing more than half a million doses of highly addictive opioids, was granted a new trial after the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled evidence provided could have led to his acquittal. Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 6 Feb. 2024 The first cases to go to trial ended with dismissals or acquittals, and all the rest are probably destined to go the same way. Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 22 Jan. 2024

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

Word History

Etymology

Middle English acquitaille, acquytall "release, discharge, conduct," borrowed from Anglo-French acquitel, acquitaill, from aquiter "to acquit" + -el, -aill -al entry 2

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

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

Dictionary Entries Near acquittal

Cite this Entry

“Acquittal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/acquittal. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

acquittal

noun
ac·​quit·​tal ə-ˈkwit-ᵊl How to pronounce acquittal (audio)
: the freeing (as by verdict) of a person from the charge of a crime

Legal Definition

acquittal

noun
ac·​quit·​tal ə-ˈkwit-ᵊl How to pronounce acquittal (audio)
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

More from Merriam-Webster on acquittal

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