indicted

/ɪnˈdaɪtɪd/ Formal

Say it: in-DY-tid

1. verb To formally accuse of or charge with a serious crime, typically after a grand jury finds there is enough evidence for a trial.
The grand jury voted to indict the official on charges of corruption.
2. adjective Having been formally accused of a crime.
The indicted executive was placed on administrative leave.
3. verb To criticize or condemn something as being wrong or harmful.
The report indicts the entire system for its fundamental failures.
🇪🇸 acusado

📖 Seen in the wild

Former Olympic canoeist indicted by a grand jury after being arrested last month when he reached into the Reflecting Pool, source tells CNN.
collected by @missha

✏️ indicted in a sentence

A federal grand jury indicted the former president on multiple felony counts.
He was indicted for fraud, but his lawyer is confident he will be acquitted.
The book is a powerful piece of journalism that indicts the fast-fashion industry.
Once a person is indicted, the next step in the legal process is typically an arraignment.
Several members of the organization were indicted in the racketeering case.
She was shocked to learn her business partner had been indicted.
The evidence presented was not sufficient to get him indicted.

🔁 Synonyms & antonyms

charged accused arraigned prosecuted impeached incriminated censured

charged · a broader term; police can charge someone, while a grand jury indicts.

accused · a more general term; anyone can accuse someone, but an indictment is a specific legal action.

arraigned · refers to the court proceeding that happens *after* an indictment, where a plea is entered.

prosecuted · describes the entire legal process of trying someone for a crime, which follows an indictment.

Opposites: acquitted, exonerated, cleared, absolved, vindicated

🌱 Where it comes from

The word 'indict' arrived from Anglo-French 'enditer', meaning 'to write down or compose'. In the 16th century, scholars added a 'c' to the spelling to link it to its Latin ancestor, 'indictare' ('to declare or proclaim'), but the established pronunciation stuck. This is why the 'c' remains silent, a historical quirk preserved in modern English.

🧩 How it's used

Common patterns:

indicted on charges ofindicted by a grand juryformally indictedindicted for a crimefederally indicted

The most common mistake is confusing 'indicted' with 'convicted'. To indict is to formally accuse, marking the beginning of a legal case. To convict is to find guilty, which happens at the end of a trial. An indicted person is legally presumed innocent. While it can be used figuratively to mean 'condemn', this usage is less common and best reserved for formal contexts.

Word family: indict, indictment, indictable

💬 Quick answers

What does it mean to be indicted?

To be indicted means a grand jury has formally determined there is enough evidence to charge you with a serious crime and proceed to trial. It is a formal accusation, not a finding of guilt.

What is the difference between indicted and convicted?

Being indicted is the formal accusation that begins a criminal case. Being convicted is the outcome of a trial where a person is found guilty. Someone can be indicted but later found not guilty.

Why is the 'c' in indicted silent?

The 'c' was added to the spelling in the 16th century to reflect the word's Latin root, but the pronunciation was already established from its French origin and never changed.

Is being indicted the same as being arrested?

No. An arrest is typically made by police when there is probable cause. An indictment is a formal charge issued by a grand jury, which may happen before or after an arrest.

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