WordValeacquittal
a judgment that a person is not guilty
In more detail
1. (noun) a judgment in a court of law that a person is not guilty of a crime
2. (noun) the act of freeing someone from a duty or obligation
Examples
- 1. The defendant received an acquittal after the jury found insufficient evidence.
- 2. His acquittal of the debt was recorded in writing.
How to use acquittal
Acquittal is a formal legal term referring to a court's judgment that someone is not guilty, or more broadly, being released from an obligation or duty. It differs from dismissal, which ends proceedings without a full trial verdict. The term carries weight in legal and formal contexts and is the opposite of conviction.
Common phrases
- acquittal on charges
- secure an acquittal
- jury acquittal
- acquittal of the defendant
- wrongful acquittal
Synonyms
exoneration · vindication · clearing · discharge
Opposites
conviction · condemnation
Word family
acquit (verb) · acquitted (adjective) · acquitting (verb)
A common mistake
Learners sometimes confuse acquittal with pardon or dismiss; acquittal means found not guilty, whereas pardon means forgiven for being guilty, and dismiss means charges were dropped before verdict.
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