indict

verb

in·dict in-ˈdīt

indicted; indicting; indicts

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

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

in-ˈdī-tər

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.

David McKnight, 39, was indicted in the same federal court on nine counts of deprivation of rights and one count of destroying records. —

Austin Mullen, NBC News, 14 Nov. 2024 Cuellar was indicted in May on conspiracy and bribery charges, and Republicans saw a chance to turn the seat. —

Megan Stringer, Axios, 5 Nov. 2024 Gustavo Alfonso Castano Restrepo, 55, of Miami was arrested Monday, days after he was indicted in federal court on one count of kidnapping resulting in death in connection with Liliana’s and Daniella’s 2016 disappearance, court documents show. —

Artemis Moshtaghian, CNN, 3 Nov. 2024 Prosecutors asked the grand jury to back off after jurors considered indicting him. Reach the reporter at [email protected] or 480-276-3237. —

Ray Stern, The Arizona Republic, 1 Nov. 2024 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

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Cite this Entry

Style

“Indict.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/indict. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.

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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

Last Updated: 22 Nov 2024 - Updated example sentences

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indict

verb

Synonyms

Examples of indict in a Sentence

Word History

Dictionary Entries Near indict

Cite this Entry

Kids Definition

Legal Definition