indict

verb

in·​dict in-ˈdīt How to pronounce indict (audio)
indicted; indicting; indicts
Synonyms of indictnext
1
transitive + intransitive : to formally charge (someone) with a crime by the finding of a jury (such as a grand jury) : to formally accuse (someone) of a crime in an indictment
If either the IRS or the FBI decides a suspect has committed a crime, a lot of hurdles must be leaped before that individual is put in prison. The agents must gather evidence, persuade an independent prosecutor to present the evidence to a grand jury, make sure the evidence is convincing enough so that the grand jury will indict the suspect, and then present the evidence to a regular jury that decides whether the suspect is innocent or guilty.—David Burnham
Traditionally the grand jury consisted of 23 persons with the favorable vote of a majority needed to indict. Today, many states use a somewhat smaller grand jury (e.g., 12) and some require more than a simple majority to indict.—Wayne R. LaFave and Jerold H. Israel
2
transitive : To accuse (someone or something) of a weakness, failing, or wrong action
The relation between freedom and literacy became the compelling theme of the slave narratives, the great body of printed books that ex-slaves generated to assert their common humanity with white Americans and to indict the system that had oppressed them.—Henry Louis Gates Jr.
Past studies have indicted high radon levels for an excess of lung cancers among underground hard-rock miners …—J. Raloff
indicter noun
or indictor
in-ˈdī-tər How to pronounce indict (audio)

Synonyms

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

Examples of indict in a Sentence

A grand jury is expected to indict him for murder. the grand jury could indict the mayor for fraud and embezzlement
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
And Lux — embroiled in controversy after three of its top executives were in September indicted on fraud charges related to a St. Louis project — is back to paying its contractors after being hit with multiple court actions. —Eric Adler, Kansas City Star, 1 Mar. 2025 Cruz was indicted by a federal grand jury on Feb. 14, 2017. —Kerry Breen, CBS News, 27 Feb. 2025 They were formally indicted last year, accused of being part of a criminal organization that exploited women after luring them to Romania. —Muri Assunção, New York Daily News, 27 Feb. 2025 Prosecutors said the woman, who was indicted in 2018, cost Stanford thousands of dollars. —Sara Schilling, Sacramento Bee, 27 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for indict

Word History

Etymology

alteration of earlier indite, from Middle English inditen, from Anglo-French enditer to write, point out, indict — more at indite

First Known Use

1531, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of indict was in 1531

Rhymes for indict

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Browse Nearby Words

indict
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Cite this Entry

“Indict.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/indict. Accessed 16 Mar. 2025.

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Kids Definition

indict

verb
in·​dict in-ˈdīt How to pronounce indict (audio)
: to charge with an offense or crime : accuse
indictable
-ə-bəl
adjective

Legal Definition

indict

transitive verb
in·​dict in-ˈdīt How to pronounce indict (audio)
: to charge with a crime by the finding or presentment of a grand jury in due form of law compare accuse, arraign, charge
Etymology

alteration of earlier indite, from Anglo-French enditer, from Old French, to write down, ultimately from Latin indicere to proclaim, from in- toward + dicere to say

More from Merriam-Webster on indict

Nglish: Translation of indict for Spanish Speakers

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