indict

verb

in·​dict in-ˈdīt 

indicted; indicting; indicts

1

transitive + intransitive : to formally charge (someone) with a crime by the finding of a jury (such as a grand jury) : to formally accuse (someone) of a crime in an indictment

If either the IRS or the FBI decides a suspect has committed a crime, a lot of hurdles must be leaped before that individual is put in prison. The agents must gather evidence, persuade an independent prosecutor to present the evidence to a grand jury, make sure the evidence is convincing enough so that the grand jury will indict the suspect, and then present the evidence to a regular jury that decides whether the suspect is innocent or guilty.

—David Burnham

Traditionally the grand jury consisted of 23 persons with the favorable vote of a majority needed to indict. Today, many states use a somewhat smaller grand jury (e.g., 12) and some require more than a simple majority to indict.

—Wayne R. LaFave and Jerold H. Israel

2

transitive : to accuse (someone or something) of a weakness, failing, or wrong action

… I indict those citizens whose easy consciences condone such wrongdoings.

—Franklin D. Roosevelt

Past studies have indicted high radon levels for an excess of lung cancers among underground hard-rock miners …

—J. Raloff

indicter noun

or indictor

in-ˈdī-tər 

Synonyms of indict

• accuse
• prosecute

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

But the law caught up to him, and he was indicted in late 2012 as part of a larger gang takedown. — Rocco Parascandola, New York Daily News, 23 Aug. 2026

Also last year, three men alleged to be part of a theft group from South America were indicted in a break-in at Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow’s home. — Marlene Lenthang, NBC news, 23 Aug. 2026

Grand juries have refused to indict suspects, and prosecutors dropped charges in high-profile cases. — Bart Jansen, USA Today, 23 Aug. 2026

Giampa, who was indicted in December 2023, ultimately accepted a plea deal and was sentenced to life in prison. — Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 22 Aug. 2026

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

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for indict

• affright
• airtight
• albite
• alight
• alright
• aplite
• aright
• bainite
• birthright
• bobwhite
• bornite
• bullfight

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