indict

play

verb in·dict \in-ˈdīt\

Definition of indict

transitive verb
1 : to charge with a fault or offense : criticize, accuse
2 : to charge with a crime by the finding or presentment of a jury (such as a grand jury) in due form of law

indicter

indictor

play \in-ˈdī-tər\ noun

See indict defined for English-language learners

See indict defined for kids

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 of indict from the Web

In 1978, he was indicted by a federal grand jury for possessing 189 stolen wristwatches that had traveled from Little Rock, Ark., to Lenexa and Wichita.

— rick montgomery, kansascity, "Bit mob player’s clothes were found, but Sal Manzo never was," 16 July 2017
And there’s good reason to believe that if called upon to judge the question, a court might conclude, in fact, that the president can be indicted while in office.

— lily carollo, Daily Intelligencer, "Election Law Expert Robert Bauer on What Don Jr.’s Emails Mean for the President," 12 July 2017
Suspects are indicted when grand juries determine prosecutors have enough evidence to send their cases to trial.

— ashley remkus, AL.com, "2 Decatur men indicted for murder in unrelated fatal shootings," 5 July 2017
A federal grand jury has indicted an Odenville man for being in possession of a pipe bond.

— carol robinson, AL.com, "St. Clair County man indicted federally on pipe bomb charge," 30 June 2017
In the 1980s, the Vatican refused to cooperate with Italian investigators when one of its officials, Archbishop Paul C. Marcinkus, was indicted over a banking scandal.

— Bloomberg.com, "Australian Police Charge Top Vatican Cardinal With Historical Sex Offenses," 29 June 2017
When he was indicted for bribery, in 1969, his lawyer suffered a heart attack near the end of the trial.

— vanityfair.com, VanityFair.com, "How Donald Trump and Roy Cohn’s Ruthless Symbiosis Changed America," 28 June 2017
Three officers involved in the fatal shooting of Chicago teen Laquan McDonald were indicted on Tuesday.

— mariya moseley, Essence.com, "Chicago Cops Indicted In The Fatal Shooting Of Laquan McDonald," 28 June 2017
One of the three suspects indicted in San Diego federal court is Anna Baker, daughter of former Lemon Grove Mayor Mary Sessom.

— sandra dibble, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Fentanyl seizures, deaths, raise alarm in San Diego," 27 June 2017

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.

Origin and Etymology of indict

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: circa 1626

See Words from the same year

Other Legal Terms

actionable, alienable, carceral, chattel, complicity, decedent, larceny, malfeasance, modus operandi

INDICT Defined for English Language Learners

indict

play

verb

Definition of indict for English Language Learners

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

INDICT Defined for Kids

indict

play

verb in·dict \in-ˈdīt\

Definition of indict for Students

indicted

;

indicting

: to formally charge with an offense or crime

indictment

\-ˈdīt-mənt\ noun

Law Dictionary

indict

play

transitive verb in·dict \in-ˈdīt\

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

Origin and Etymology of 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