WordValeindictment
a formal charge accusing someone of a serious crime
In more detail
1. (noun) a formal written accusation of a crime, issued by a court
2. (noun) something that shows or proves that something else is very bad or wrong
Examples
- 1. The grand jury issued an indictment against the suspect for armed robbery.
- 2. The high unemployment rate is an indictment of the government's economic policies.
How to use indictment
In legal contexts, an indictment is a formal charge filed by a prosecutor or grand jury. More broadly, indictment is used metaphorically to mean evidence that something or someone is seriously flawed or wrong, as in 'a damning indictment of the system.' This second sense emphasizes condemnation or critique rather than literal legal proceedings.
Common phrases
- hand down an indictment
- bring an indictment
- face indictment
- grand jury indictment
- damning indictment of
Synonyms
accusation · charge · prosecution · condemnation · critique
Word family
indict (verb) · indictable (adjective)
A common mistake
Learners often confuse 'indictment' with 'indication'; an indictment is a formal accusation or strong criticism, not merely a sign or hint of something.
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