English · Word Candidate

indictment

/ɪnˈdaɪt.mənt/

Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.

Also seen as: indictments

Sense 1

Meaning · English

An official formal accusation for a criminal offence, or the process by which it is brought to a jury.

Noun

Examples

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.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 2

Meaning · English

The official legal document outlining the charges concerned; bill of indictment.

Noun

Examples

[…]— the indictment will remain sealed until his expected arraignment on Tuesday, when the charges will be formally revealed.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “indictment” mean?

An official formal accusation for a criminal offence, or the process by which it is brought to a jury.

Is “indictment” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.