indictment
nounattested in dialogue
- United States//ɪnˈdaɪt.mənt//
An official formal accusation for a criminal offence, or the process by which it is brought to a jury.
noun
- 1
An official formal accusation for a criminal offence, or the process by which it is brought to a jury.
But she accomplished the third task — the one that mattered most to her boss — securing a criminal indictment against Mr. Comey, the former F.B.I. director.
- 2
The official legal document outlining the charges concerned; bill of indictment.
[…]— the indictment will remain sealed until his expected arraignment on Tuesday, when the charges will be formally revealed.
- 3
An accusation of wrongdoing; a criticism or condemnation.
Can there be a greater indictment against patriotism than that it will thus brand a man a criminal, throw him into prison, and rob him of the results of fifteen years of faithful service?
I must say Humphrey, these facts are a frightening indictment of bureaucratic sloppiness and self-indulgence.
I have been critical of the RDG in the past for merely being a cypher for government announcements, but the failure of its members to make a stand on this issue and not be complicit in the Government's subterfuge is a shocking indictment of their failure to protect the industry.
- 4
Evidence of failure or poor performance.
an indictment of his ability to lead
an indictment of his game
a stinging indictment of our prison system
Etymology
18th-century Latinized respelling of Middle English endytement (“action of accusing”), from Anglo-Norman enditement, from enditer, from Late Latin indictāre, from Latin indictus.
Forms
- plural
- indictments
indictment · An official formal accusation for a criminal offence, or the process by which it is brought to a jury.
Indies · The East Indies, including India, Southeast Asia, Indonesia,…indifference · The state of being indifferent.indifferent · Ambivalent; unconcerned; uninterested, apathetic.