arraignment

[ uh-reyn-muhnt ]

noun

1. Law. an act or instance of bringing someone before a criminal court to hear an indictment, or formal charge, against them and to enter a plea in response to that charge:

   At her arraignment Crane pleaded not guilty, and the trial was set for May 21.

2. a calling into question or a finding fault, especially with respect to the value or virtue of something; critical examination:

   In his arraignment of the basic weaknesses in the nation's social fabric, he drew special attention to racism.

Other Words From

• non·ar·raign·ment noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of arraignment¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English arainement, from Middle French araisnement; equivalent to arraign + -ment

Example Sentences

She said about a dozen of those courtrooms are now open for in-person proceedings, including arraignments, mental health and drug treatment hearings and other routine matters.

From Washington Post

The arraignment of Jasmine Hartin, 38, comes three days after she was initially detained—after being found spattered with blood on a dock where she and Superintendent Henry Jemmott had been socializing alone after curfew.

From The Daily Beast

By comparing defendants assigned to more-lenient versus less-lenient prosecutors, we’re able to measure the effect of nonprosecution—that is, having your case dismissed at the initial arraignment hearing.

From Time

In 2014, a different judge came to a different conclusion and set a new arraignment date, allowing criminal proceedings to resume.

From Voice of San Diego

“San Diego is one of three still operating under emergency orders issued by Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye which allows arraignments to occur as many as seven business days after someone is arrested and booked into jail,” Moran reports.

From Voice of San Diego

His attorney says he will be pleading not guilty at his arraignment in December.

From The Daily Beast

The defendant was led off pending arraignment on an indictment, to which he is expected to plead not guilty.

From The Daily Beast

The arraignment ended with us being everything we truly are and nothing we are really not.

From The Daily Beast

The arraignment concluded as usual, with the exception of the judge inquiring about classified material.

From The Daily Beast

The arraignment of Sulaiman Abu Ghaith was just another hearing in Manhattan federal court.

From The Daily Beast

Under the force of this triple arraignment the outlaw leader dropped to his seat, staggered and silenced.

From Project Gutenberg

A tide of dull color had risen to Miss Reids face as she listened to Portias blunt arraignment.

From Project Gutenberg

And his face was white, his eyes burning, when at night he leaned forward to fling forth to his hearers his final arraignment.

From Project Gutenberg

The record of persecution during the first five years of the Kulturkampf is an appalling arraignment of its perpetrators.

From Project Gutenberg

Part of his arraignment was that not a decade had passed that the North had not persecuted the South on account of her slaves.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• indictment