impeachment

noun

im·​peach·​ment -chmənt 

plural -s

: the act or result of impeaching:

a

obsolete : hindrance, obstruction, impediment

b

obsolete : injury, harm, damage

c

: a calling into question or discrediting (as the purity of one's motives or one's honesty)

the impeachment of his character

the impeachment of the witness's testimony

d

: a calling to account for some high crime or offense before a competent tribunal : arraignment

especially : the arraignment (as of a public official) for misconduct while in office

e(1)

: conviction of bias, venality, invalidity, or other fault

(2)

: conviction of misconduct and usually removal of office

Phrases

without impeachment of waste

of a tenant

: exempt from suit for waste committed

—used in a real estate lease

Word History

Etymology

Middle English empechement, from Middle French, from empecher + -ment

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