indict

verb

in·​dict in-ˈdīt 

indicted; indicting; indicts

transitive verb

1

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

2

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

indicter noun

or indictor

in-ˈdī-tər 

Synonyms

• accuse
• charge
• criminate
• defame [archaic]
• impeach
• incriminate

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

But House members mounted their own efforts to expel the freshman congressman after he was indicted in May. —Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 29 Nov. 2023

Among the moves that have been floated if Trump gets a second term are using the Justice Department to go after his political rivals, the Times reported in November, including having enemies indicted. —Alison Durkee, Forbes, 29 Nov. 2023

Superior Court as prosecutors announced that he had been indicted by a grand jury on 52 charges in the shooting, including first-degree murder while armed. —Keith L. Alexander, Washington Post, 27 Nov. 2023

The complaint also states that Nir went to authorities in 2019 after years of therapy but Wakeford was never indicted. —Liam Quinn, Peoplemag, 27 Nov. 2023

Prior to his appointment as special counsel in August, Weiss did not have the authority to indict Hunter Biden outside his jurisdiction in Delaware. —Sarah Bedford, Washington Examiner, 16 Nov. 2023

Advertisement Peggy McMartin Buckey, her son, Ray Buckey, and her mother, Virginia McMartin, were among seven at the preschool initially indicted on 115 counts of child molestation by Philibosian, the presiding district attorney during the infamous case. —Anthony De Leon, Los Angeles Times, 15 Nov. 2023

In September, his former Department of Buildings commissioner, Eric Ulrich, was indicted on allegations of favor trading and bribery. —Eric Lach, The New Yorker, 14 Nov. 2023

Being indicted on 91 criminal counts in four cases has, so far, only solidified his support. —Adam Nagourney, New York Times, 16 Nov. 2023

See More

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

Video

Video: Why Is There a 'C' in 'Indict'?

And who put it there, anyway?

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