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

On Feb. 8, a federal grand jury indicted a Children's Village employee, Taylor Ray Freeman, on three charges of possessing and distributing child pornography.

— bob ortega, azcentral, "A horrifying journey through Arizona foster care, and why we don't know how many more children may be abused", 4 June 2017
Ambrose Obinna-Warrior was indicted earlier this week.

— the associated press, The Seattle Times, "Corrections officer charged with sexually assaulting inmate", 2 June 2017
He was indicted in February on felony drug charges.

— associated press, Washington Post, "‘Pill mill’ trial delayed for accused doctor’s surgery", 30 May 2017
As my colleague David Graham wrote at the time, the size of the settlement, which came months after a Cleveland grand jury declined to indict Loehman, was unusually large.

— krishnadev calamur, The Atlantic, "Cleveland Police Department Fires Officer in Tamir Rice Shooting", 30 May 2017
Members of The Hooligans bikers club were indicted in the scheme.

— greg moran, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Feds indict members of Tijuana's Hooligans bikers club in high-tech Jeep thefts", 30 May 2017
And whatever remote chance there was that the crisis could be calmed by talking it out vanished when a federal grand jury in Miami indicted Noriega as a drug racketeer.

— glenn garvin, miamiherald, "Former Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega is dead", 30 May 2017
One lieutenant colonel in California hanged himself shortly after he was indicted.

— dave philipps, New York Times, "Army Fraud Crackdown Uses Broad Net to Catch Small Fish, Some Unfairly", 28 May 2017
A Sumter County mother and daughter were indicted by a federal grand jury Thursday for a scheme to defraud the IRS through their tax-preparation business.

— jonece starr dunigan, AL.com, "Sumter County mother, daughter indicted for conspiracy to defraud IRS", 25 May 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

First Known Use: circa 1626

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