indictment

noun in·dict·ment \ in-ˈdīt-mənt \

Updated on: 20 May 2018

Definition of indictment

1 a : the action or the legal process of indicting

b : the state of being indicted

2 : a formal written statement framed by a prosecuting authority and found by a jury (such as a grand jury) charging a person with an offense

3 : an expression of strong disapproval

an indictment of government policy on immigrants

See indictment defined for English-language learners

See indictment defined for kids

Examples of indictment in a Sentence

The grand jury has handed down indictments against several mobsters.
No one was surprised by her indictment.
She intended the film to be an indictment of the media.

Recent Examples of indictment from the Web

Not all of the money made it to the financial institutions, according to the indictment.

— jen christensen, michael nedelman and paul murphy, CNN, "Texas doctor, accused of giving fake diagnoses, faces $240 million health care fraud case," 15 May 2018
Police also confiscated $746 in cash, according to the indictment.

— heather nolan, NOLA.com, "9 charged in racketeering indictment stemming from D-Block drug ring investigation," 15 May 2018
The findings, which are still being sorted through, led to the indictment.

— New York Times, "How a Web of Slip-and-Fall Cases Puts a New Spin on an Old-Fashioned Scheme," 11 May 2018
The site founders face federal charges of facilitating prostitution and money laundering, according to an indictment.

— Fox News, "NYC man pleads guilty to promoting prostitution," 11 May 2018
The traders used code names when talking about customers and also met in person in New York to discuss particular clients and trading strategies, according to the indictment.

— david mclaughlin, Bloomberg.com, "Ex-JPMorgan Trader Latest Charged for Currency-Market Scam," 10 May 2018
Only Concord Management and Consulting has responded to the indictment in court.

— Washington Post, "Indicted Russian firm tied to ‘Putin’s chef,’ Internet Research Agency set to plead not guilty in U.S. court," 9 May 2018
The charges are related to crimes committed from August 2013 to July 2016, according to the indictment.

— uriel j. garcia, azcentral, "Indictment details charges against Tucson parents sought in abduction of children," 8 May 2018
Johnson stole the bar, breaking through a display case, while Goldman acted as a lookout, according to the indictment.

— gwen filosa, miamiherald, "A piece of the gold treasure stolen in Key West in 2010 has been found | Miami Herald," 4 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'indictment.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of indictment

14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

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indictment Synonyms

Synonyms

charge, complaint, count, rap;

Related Words

accusation, allegation, plea;

crimination;

counteraccusation, countercharge;

arraignment, impeachment;

implication, imputation, innuendo, insinuation;

censure, condemnation, denunciation;

incrimination, recrimination;

Other Legal Terms

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

INDICTMENT Defined for English Language Learners

indictment

noun

Definition of indictment for English Language Learners

law : an official written statement charging a person with a crime
: the act of officially charging someone with a crime : the act of indicting someone
: an expression or statement of strong disapproval

Law Dictionary

indictment

noun in·dict·ment \ in-ˈdīt-mənt \

legal Definition of indictment

1 : the action or the legal process of indicting

2 a : a formal written statement framed by a prosecuting authority and found by a grand jury that charges a person or persons with an offense — compare complaint, information

b : bill of indictment at bill 3b