accused

American  

[uh-kyoozd] / əˈkyuzd /

adjective

1. charged with a crime, wrongdoing, fault, etc..

   the accused boy.

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noun

1. Often the accused a person or persons charged in a court of law with a crime, offense, etc.

accused British  

/ əˈkjuːzd /

noun

1. law the defendant or defendants appearing on a criminal charge

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Usage

What does accused mean? Accused is an adjective that means charged with a crime or other offense. Accused is also used as a noun to refer to a person or people who have been charged with a crime, often as the accused. To accuse someone of something means to say that they are guilty of it. This can happen in everyday situations, such as children accusing each other of not sharing. But accused is most used in the context of the criminal justice system to indicate that a person has been officially charged with a crime. Example: The accused was escorted in the courtroom by police.

Other Word Forms

• misaccused adjective
• self-accused adjective
• unaccused adjective

Etymology

Origin of accused

First recorded in 1585–95; accuse + -ed ²

Example Sentences

In that case, filed last year, the FTC accused Deere of having an illegal monopoly on repair services.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 19, 2026

On Monday, he and former Republican Rep. Tony Gonzales of Texas, another congressman accused of inappropriate relationships with staff, resigned amid a bipartisan push led by two women to expel them from office.

From Salon • Apr. 19, 2026

They told her she would die lonely, called her selfish, and accused her of "betraying her country".

From BBC • Apr. 18, 2026

Bill Essayli accused California of not vetting hospice providers when administering licenses.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 17, 2026

This is the license that allows poets to say things that are not precisely true without being accused of telling lies.

From "The Hidden Gallery" by Maryrose Wood