WordValearraignment
a court hearing where charges are read and a plea entered
In more detail
1. (noun) a court hearing where a defendant is told what crimes they are accused of and asked whether they are guilty or not guilty
Examples
- The defendant's arraignment is scheduled for next Tuesday morning.
How to use arraignment
Arraignment is a formal legal term used in criminal procedure to describe an early court appearance where a defendant learns the charges against them and enters a plea. It is a procedural stage that typically occurs after arrest and before trial. The term is most common in American legal contexts and formal legal documents.
Common phrases
- arraignment hearing
- preliminary arraignment
- first arraignment
- appear for arraignment
- arraignment in court
- face arraignment
Synonyms
indictment · charge · prosecution · hearing · court appearance
Word family
arraign (verb) · arraigned (adjective/past tense)
A common mistake
Learners sometimes confuse arraignment with indictment; an indictment is the formal charge itself, while arraignment is the court hearing where the defendant responds to that charge.
Save this word in WordVale and it comes back for review right before you'd forget it — with pronunciation, real examples, and optional translations. One purchase, no subscription.
Get WordValeFREE 7-DAY TRIAL · iPHONE & iPAD