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indict

verb
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in·​dict | \ in-ˈdīt How to pronounce indict (audio) \
indicted; indicting; indicts

Definition of indict

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
Other Words from indict Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences Learn More about indict

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Other Words from indict

indicter or indictor \ in-​ˈdī-​tər How to pronounce indictor (audio) \ noun

Synonyms & Antonyms for indict

Synonyms

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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 Lopera faced charges, including involuntary manslaughter, but after a grand jury declined to indict him, Clark County District Attorney Steve Wolfson dropped the charges. — Anita Hassan, NBC News, "When Byron Williams died saying 'I can't breathe,' few protested. Now his family is fighting for justice.," 18 June 2020 Grand juries failed to indict the officers who killed Michael Brown, in Ferguson, Missouri, in 2014; Eric Garner, in Staten Island, in 2014; and Tamir Rice, in Cleveland, in 2014. — Jeannie Suk Gersen, The New Yorker, "How the Charges Against Derek Chauvin Fit Into a Vision of Criminal-Justice Reform," 17 June 2020 At least Milley knows no court of justice would ever indict him. — Adam Weinstein, The New Republic, "America’s Top General Isn’t That Sorry," 11 June 2020 After an investigation, a grand jury declined to indict Loehmann. — Dallas News, "Same story, different outcomes: Tampa Bay pitcher Colin Poche demands justice for Tamir Rice," 9 June 2020 His office handled the Roundtree case, where a grand jury declined to indict the officer. — Elizabeth Zavala, ExpressNews.com, "District Attorney says he supports San Antonio protesters despite threat to his life," 9 June 2020 The rappers even ended up playing a show in St. Louis the very night that a grand jury declined to indict former police officer Darren Wilson over Brown's death. — Christian Holub, EW.com, "Run the Jewels release new album early amid nationwide uprisings," 3 June 2020 In December 2014, hundreds of people showed up to demonstrations in Berkeley to protest the decisions not to indict the officers involved in the deaths of Eric Garner and Michael Brown. — Arlene Martinez, USA TODAY, "In CA: Sheriff tells people they're welcome to not use 911; waiting on 300 million masks," 3 June 2020 In 2014, a grand jury declined to indict the New York Police officer accused of using a chokehold on Eric Garner. — Eric Levenson, CNN, "Why the three other officers in George Floyd's death have not been charged -- yet," 1 June 2020

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'indict.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of indict

circa 1626, in the meaning defined at sense 2

History and Etymology for indict

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

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Time Traveler for indict

Time Traveler

The first known use of indict was circa 1626

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Statistics for indict

Last Updated

25 Jun 2020

Cite this Entry

“Indict.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/indict. Accessed 4 Jul. 2020.

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More Definitions for indict

indict

verb
How to pronounce indict (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of indict

chiefly US, law : to formally decide that someone should be put on trial for a crime

See the full definition for indict in the English Language Learners Dictionary

indict

verb
in·​dict | \ in-ˈdīt How to pronounce indict (audio) \
indicted; indicting

Kids Definition of indict

: to formally charge with an offense or crime

Other Words from indict

indictment \ -​ˈdīt-​mənt \ noun

indict

transitive verb
in·​dict | \ in-ˈdīt How to pronounce indict (audio) \

Legal Definition of indict

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

History and Etymology for indict

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

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More from Merriam-Webster on indict

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for indict

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with indict

Spanish Central: Translation of indict

Nglish: Translation of indict for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of indict for Arabic Speakers

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