indict

verb

in·​dict in-ˈdīt How to pronounce indict (audio)
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
The relation between freedom and literacy became the compelling theme of the slave narratives, the great body of printed books that ex-slaves generated to assert their common humanity with white Americans and to indict the system that had oppressed them.Henry Louis Gates Jr.
Past studies have indicted high radon levels for an excess of lung cancers among underground hard-rock miners …J. Raloff
indicter noun
or indictor

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The Context Four individuals have been indicted following an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which uncovered a network involving fraudulent marriages and visa applications. Tom Rogers, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Apr. 2025 On Monday, April 21, Cleveland Broadie of Rockdale County was indicted by a grand jury on charges of malice murder and felony murder in connection with the 2022 death of his wife, Denise Broadie, according to CBS affiliate Atlanta News First. Brenton Blanchet, People.com, 28 Apr. 2025 In 2019, during Trump’s first presidency, a Massachusetts District Court judge, Shelley Joseph, was federally indicted by the Justice Department on obstruction of justice charges after preventing an ICE officer from taking custody of a defendant who was undocumented. Jenny Jarvie, Los Angeles Times, 25 Apr. 2025 Two suspects, Brian Wellington and Deshaun Harris, were indicted on charges of murder, armed criminal action in May 2024. Kate Linderman, Kansas City Star, 25 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for indict

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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Indict.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/indict. Accessed 3 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

indict

verb
in·​dict in-ˈdīt How to pronounce indict (audio)
: to charge with an offense or crime : accuse
indictable
-ə-bəl
adjective

Legal Definition

indict

transitive verb
in·​dict in-ˈdīt How to pronounce indict (audio)
: 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

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