indict

[ in-dahyt ]

verb (used with object)

1. Law. (of a grand jury) to bring a formal accusation against (someone) as a means of bringing a case to trial after ascertaining that there is enough evidence:

   The grand jury indicted him for murder.

2. to charge with an offense or crime; accuse of wrongdoing; incriminate; condemn:

   He tends to indict everyone of plotting against him.

indict

/ ɪnˈdaɪt /

verb

1. tr to charge (a person) with crime, esp formally in writing; accuse

Usage

See indite

Derived Forms

• ˌindictˈee, noun
• inˈdicter, noun

Other Words From

• in·dict·ee [in-dahy-, tee], noun
• in·dict·er in·dic·tor noun
• re·in·dict verb (used with object)

Word History and Origins

Origin of indict¹

First recorded in 1620–30; variant spelling (from Medieval Latin ) of indite

Word History and Origins

Origin of indict¹

C14: alteration of enditen to indite

Example Sentences

“He was pursued because Trump did not like him. But in the end, a grand jury would not indict him,” Bromwich said.

From Los Angeles Times

And I think you have to sort of indict the NFL a little bit.

From Salon

While Zicherman did see space to indict the NFL and other people involved in Hernandez's life "a little bit," what he really wanted to explore in this iteration of "American Sports Story" was the immense pressure the athlete was under.

From Salon

That and so much more — left unsaid from the debate stage, dodged in U.S. mass media and evaded from the podiums of power in Washington — indict not only the Israeli government but also the U.S. government as an accomplice to mass murder that has escalated into genocide.

From Salon

Ohta said he disagreed with Chavez’s lawyers’ argument that there was a lack of probable cause to indict, noting that Middleton had presented evidence to the grand jury that Chavez shot Mitchell as a result of “contagious fire.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• accuse
• charge