indictment Hear it!

indictment Definition

in·dict·ment (in dīt′mənt)

noun

  1. an indicting or being indicted
  2. a charge; accusation; specif. a formal written accusation charging one or more persons with the commission of a crime, presented by a grand jury to the court when the jury has found, after examining the evidence presented, that there is a valid case

Etymology: ME & Anglo-Fr enditement

indictment Synonyms

indictment

n.

  1. The act of indicting

    arraignment, censure, incrimination; see blame 1.

  2. A legal document

    bill, true bill, summons, statement, citation, ticket, replevin; see also warrant, writ.

  3. An accusation supported by evidence

    charge, presentment, findings; see accusation 2.

indictment Law Definition

n

  1. A charge made by a grand jury against a defendant.
  2. The process of making such a charge.

indictment Usage Examples

Preposition: of

  • society: The Seven Deadly Sins was a savage indictment of the society around him.
  • government: Their failure to have been supplied with them is a massive indictment of the present government.

Converse of object

  • damn: These figures are a damning indictment of the fairness of our society today.
  • lodge: The number of indictments lodged rose to 1,332 in 1996, but fell back in 1998 to its 1995 level.
  • prefer: Top of page Procedure Rules on preferring indictments are nor contained in CPR Rule 14.
  • amend: Applications to the Court to amend the indictment because of error should never be necessary.
  • draft: The checking procedure must be observed even in cases where counsel has drafted the indictment.
  • serve: Lord Bonomy recommended no change to the 80 day limit within which the Crown has to serve the indictment.

Preposition: for

offense: For further guidance on drafting indictments for particular offenses see the guidance for those particular offenses.

Adjective modifier

  • searing: In a searing indictment in her fifth report, Smith documented the degree to which the original plan had been changed by the GMC.
  • scathing: Their text is a scathing indictment of alternative agendas for reconciliation.
  • savage: The Seven Deadly Sins was a savage indictment of the society around him.
  • shocking: It was a shocking indictment of the whole cynical trade.
  • sad: This is a sad indictment of the world's fourth largest economy.
  • devastating: Patrick O'Connor, QC for the family, said, " This report is a devastating indictment of the whole prison service.

Noun used with modifier

  • bail: Extensions were granted at least once in 24 % of all bail indictments compared with just 6 % in 1995.
  • custody: In 1995, extensions were more likely to be granted in custody indictments.
  • draft: The preparation of the draft indictment is part of the reviewing lawyer's function.
  • crime: My own suspicion is that the Americans may try for a war crimes indictment against Saddam Hussein.
  • war: My own suspicion is that the Americans may try for a war crimes indictment against Saddam Hussein.