indict

verb

in·dict in-�?dīt

indicted; indicting; indicts

transitive + intransitive : to formally charge (someone) with a crime by the finding of a jury (such as a grand jury) : to formally accuse (someone) of a crime in an indictment

If either the IRS or the FBI decides a suspect has committed a crime, a lot of hurdles must be leaped before that individual is put in prison. The agents must gather evidence, persuade an independent prosecutor to present the evidence to a grand jury, make sure the evidence is convincing enough so that the grand jury will indict the suspect, and then present the evidence to a regular jury that decides whether the suspect is innocent or guilty.—David Burnham

Traditionally the grand jury consisted of 23 persons with the favorable vote of a majority needed to indict. Today, many states use a somewhat smaller grand jury (e.g., 12) and some require more than a simple majority to indict.—Wayne R. LaFave and Jerold H. Israel

transitive : To accuse (someone or something) of a weakness, failing, or wrong action

The relation between freedom and literacy became the compelling theme of the slave narratives, the great body of printed books that ex-slaves generated to assert their common humanity with white Americans and to indict the system that had oppressed them.—Henry Louis Gates Jr.

Past studies have indicted high radon levels for an excess of lung cancers among underground hard-rock miners …—J. Raloff

indicter noun

or indictor

in-�?dī-tər

Examples of indict in a Sentence

A grand jury is expected to indict him for murder. the grand jury could indict the mayor for fraud and embezzlement

Recent Examples on the Web

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Smirnov's Other Legal Troubles Last month, Smirnov was indicted in a new case on federal tax charges. —Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 13 Dec. 2024 An Orange County mother was indicted by a grand jury on charges of first-degree murder and attempted first-degree murder Wednesday for allegedly killing her 8-month-old son and injuring her 2-year-old son by setting them on fire. —Silas Morgan, Orlando Sentinel, 12 Dec. 2024 Alexander Smirnov was indicted in February by special counsel David Weiss, who was appointed to lead the now-defunct investigations into Hunter Biden. —Robert Legare, CBS News, 12 Dec. 2024 He was indicted by a grand jury in 2013 and was sentenced to 25 years in prison. —Barry Levitt, TIME, 11 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for indict

Word History

Etymology

alteration of earlier indite, from Middle English inditen, from Anglo-French enditer to write, point out, indict — more at indite

First Known Use

1531, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler

The first known use of indict was in 1531

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Style

“Indict.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/indict. Accessed 19 Dec. 2024.

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Kids Definition

indict

verb

in·dict in-�?dīt

: to charge with an offense or crime : accuse

indictable

-ə-bəl

adjective

Legal Definition

indict

transitive verb

in·dict in-�?dīt

: to charge with a crime by the finding or presentment of a grand jury in due form of law compare accuse, arraign, charge

Etymology

alteration of earlier indite, from Anglo-French enditer, from Old French, to write down, ultimately from Latin indicere to proclaim, from in- toward + dicere to say

Last Updated: 16 Dec 2024 - Updated example sentences

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indict

verb

Synonyms

Examples of indict in a Sentence

Word History

Dictionary Entries Near indict

Cite this Entry

Kids Definition

Legal Definition