indict

verb

in·dict in-ˈdīt

indicted; indicting; indicts

Synonyms of indict next

transitive verb

: to charge with a crime by the finding or presentment of a jury (such as a grand jury) in due form of law

: to charge with a fault or offense : criticize, accuse

indicter noun

or indictor

in-ˈdī-tər

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 Trump has also been indicted in that case, brought by Fulton County Dist. —

Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 18 Sep. 2023 Lindsay Clancy, the Massachusetts mother accused of strangling her three children to death, was indicted by a grand jury Friday on three murder charges, prosecutors said. —

Liam Quinn, Peoplemag, 18 Sep. 2023 In June, a grand jury in Houston declined to indict Scott and five other people on any criminal charges related to the deadly concert. —

Juan Lozano, BostonGlobe.com, 18 Sep. 2023 The president's son Hunter was indicted on gun charges and House conservatives doubled down on their threat to shut down the government. —

Nbc Universal, NBC News, 17 Sep. 2023 Paul was the subject of an FBI investigation and was federally indicted in June. —

Aarón Torres, Dallas News, 15 Sep. 2023 Trump had not yet been indicted on federal charges stemming from Smith's probe at the time the battle between the special counsel and Twitter was playing out behind closed doors. —

Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 15 Sep. 2023 Hunter Biden was indicted Thursday on federal firearms charges, the latest and weightiest step yet in a long-running investigation into the president’s son. —

Lindsay Whitehurst, Fortune, 14 Sep. 2023 Hunter Biden was indicted Thursday on federal firearms charges, the latest step in a long-running investigation into the president’s son that puts the case on track toward a possible high-stakes trial as the 2024 election looms. —

Lindsay Whitehurst, Anchorage Daily News, 14 Sep. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'indict.' 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

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

First Known Use

1531, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler

The first known use of indict was in 1531

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Cite this Entry

Style

“Indict.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/indict. Accessed 3 Oct. 2023.

Copy Citation

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