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acquittal
noun
ac·quit·tal
ə-ˈkwi-tᵊl
: a setting free from the charge of an offense by verdict, sentence, or other legal process
Examples of acquittal in a Sentence
The case resulted in acquittal of the defendant.
Several jurors voted for acquittal.
The case resulted in an acquittal of the defendant.
Recent Examples on the Web
Some of those cases have ended in acquittals, but early last month Garza's office secured what is believed to be the first-ever conviction of a police officer in Travis County for use of deadly force while on-duty.
—Skye Seipp, Austin American-Statesman, 6 Nov. 2024
Lynch was on his super yacht, the Bayesian, off the coast of Sicily last month to celebrate his acquittal in US court when the boat was hit by a storm and sank.
—Ben Kesslen, Quartz, 3 Sep. 2024
The Brothers Said That OJ Simpson's Acquittal Had A ‘Profound’ Impact On Their Case
In the documentary, Lyle Menendez argued that OJ Simpson’s acquittal had a huge impact on their second trial, which began eight days after Simpson’s trial ended.
—Monica Mercuri, Forbes, 7 Oct. 2024
If the trial resulted in an acquittal, the case would be over and the prosecution could not appeal.
—Emily Bazelon, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2024
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Word History
Etymology
Middle English acquitaille, acquytall "release, discharge, conduct," borrowed from Anglo-French acquitel, acquitaill, from aquiter "to acquit" + -el, -aill -al entry 2
First Known Use
15th century, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of acquittal was
in the 15th century
Dictionary Entries Near acquittal
Cite this Entry
“Acquittal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/acquittal. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.
Kids Definition
acquittal
noun
ac·quit·tal
ə-ˈkwit-ᵊl
: the freeing (as by verdict) of a person from the charge of a crime
Legal Definition
acquittal
noun
ac·quit·tal
ə-ˈkwit-ᵊl
1
: release or discharge from debt or other liability
2
: a setting free or deliverance from the charge of an offense by verdict of a jury, judgment of a court, or other legal process see also implied acquittal, judgment of acquittal at judgment sense 1a compare conviction
More from Merriam-Webster on acquittal
Nglish: Translation of acquittal for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of acquittal for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about acquittal
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