impeachment

[ im-peech-muhnt ]

noun

1. the impeaching of a public official before an appropriate tribunal.
2. (in Congress or a state legislature) the presentation of formal charges against a public official by the lower house, trial to be before the upper house.
3. demonstration that a witness is less worthy of belief.
4. the act of impeaching.
5. the state of being impeached.

impeachment

1. A formal accusation of wrongdoing against a public official. According to the United States Constitution , the House of Representatives can vote to impeach an official, but the Senate actually tries the case. Several presidencies have been blemished by impeachment or the threat of impeachment: President Andrew Johnson was impeached after the Civil War but was acquitted. President Richard Nixon resigned from office as the House of Representatives prepared to initiate impeachment proceedings. President William Jefferson Clinton was impeached in 1998 but was acquitted by the Senate the following year.

Other Words From

• nonim·peachment noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of impeachment¹

1350–1400; Middle English empechement < Anglo-French. See impeach, -ment

Example Sentences

With few exceptions, they have gone along, refusing to convict him in two impeachment trials and, even after he was convicted of 34 felonies, helping him win a second term in the White House as he plowed through a Republican primary and general election after falsely denying his 2020 loss.

From Los Angeles Times

He staunchly opposed both Trump impeachments while co-sponsoring impeachment resolutions against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and President Biden.

From Los Angeles Times

He considers U.S. military aid to Ukraine to be a waste of money; he doesn’t much like Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, decrying him as a “salesman,” and he no doubt remains bitter over the role that their “beautiful phone call” played in his first impeachment trial.

From Slate

Stefanik once billed herself to voters as a traditional conservative, but emerged as one of Trump's most ardent defenders during the first impeachment trial against him in 2019.

From BBC

Control of the House gives a party the power to initiate spending legislation and launch impeachment proceedings against officials.

From BBC

Related Words

• accusation
• action
• argument
• bill
• case
• claim
• dispute
• indictment
• litigation
• prosecution
• suit
• trial