indict

verb in·dict \ in-ˈdīt \

|Updated on: 12 Jul 2018

Examples: indict in a Sentence

Definition of indict

indicted; indicting; indicts

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

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indicter

or 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 September 1976, police arrested Chapman on charges of murdering 5-year-old David Louison of Brockton two years earlier, but a Plymouth County grand jury found insufficient evidence to indict him.

— travis andersen, BostonGlobe.com, "Convicted sex offender Wayne Chapman ordered held without bail on charges of exposing himself," 9 July 2018
There also were a few Lake Shore Drive shutdowns by protesters after grand juries decided not to indict police officers in the police shootings of men in New York and Ferguson, Mo.

— patrick m. o'connell, chicagotribune.com, "Anti-violence march on northbound lanes of Dan Ryan Expressway set to start at 10 a.m.," 7 July 2018
On Wednesday, the Palies waived their right to be indicted and pleaded guilty to the mail fraud charges before U.S. District Judge Stefan R. Underhill in Bridgeport.

— david owens, courant.com, "Owners Of Metals Company That Defrauded Pratt & Whitney And Subcontractor Face Prison," 28 June 2018
Schulte, who had previously been prosecuted for possession of child pornography, has been expected to be indicted on the leaking charges for some time now.

— cyrus farivar, Ars Technica, "Man who allegedly gave Vault 7 cache to WikiLeaks busted by poor opsec," 19 June 2018
Should prosecutors decide to indict, the state will have a crucial witness on its side: Harow has agreed to testify in the investigation of his former boss.

— matthew campbell, Bloomberg.com, "Benjamin Netanyahu Could Be Heading for a Fifth Term. Or to Court," 14 June 2018
Kilimnik is the first new defendant to be indicted in the sweeping federal inquiry into Russian electoral meddling since February.

— matt ford, The New Republic, "Mueller adds new charges for Paul Manafort and his longtime Russian associate.," 8 June 2018
Sadly, all that evidence was buried when top Justice Department officials in the George W. Bush administration refused to back prosecutors’ calls to indict the Purdue officials.

— barry meier, STAT, "Reviving an old book to tell a new story about OxyContin, Purdue, and the Sackler family," 6 June 2018
Manafort is the most senior member of Trump's campaign to be indicted, though the charges do not relate to campaign activities.

— eric beech, Anchorage Daily News, "Manafort attempted to tamper with potential witnesses: U.S. special counsel," 5 June 2018

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

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

indict Synonyms

Other Legal Terms

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

INDICT Defined for English Language Learners

indict

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

verb in·dict \ in-ˈdīt \

Definition of indict for Students

indicted; indicting

: to formally charge with an offense or crime

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indictment

\-ˈdīt-mənt\ noun

Law Dictionary

indict

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