indictment
noun
in·dict·ment
in-ˈdīt-mənt 
plural indictments
1
: a formal written statement prepared by a prosecuting authority charging a person with a crime and returned by a jury (such as a grand jury) upon finding that sufficient evidence to support it was presented
The state filed a one-hundred-count indictment against him that included murder, drug trafficking, prostitution, arson, and scores of other crimes.—
Sidney Sheldon
Sidney SheldonThe grand jury handed up Indictment No. 2 on November 19, 1998.—US v. Barnes, 251 F. 3d 251 (Court of Appeals, 1st Circuit 2001)
US v. Barnes, 251 F. 3d 251 (Court of Appeals, 1st Circuit 2001)If a district attorney takes or agrees to take from any person money … and an indictment is handed down or a presentment is made to this effect, the district attorney shall be disqualified from further discharging his or her official duties until a trial is had upon the indictment or presentment.—Official Code of Georgia Annotated, section 15-18-26 (2022)
Official Code of Georgia Annotated, section 15-18-26 (2022)2
a
: the action or the legal process of indicting
Felony cases are typically charged by indictment.
… reporters keen on finding out which City Hall figures were in danger of indictment …—Andy Logan
Andy LoganThe accused person, after indictment, is brought before the court. He may plead guilty or not guilty. If the plea is guilty, the judge sentences the person. If the plea is not guilty, a trial is held.—Stanley E. Dimond and Elmer F. Pflieger
Stanley E. Dimond and Elmer F. Pflieger
b
: the state of being indicted
He was frequently known to proceed with sales despite strong evidence that ownership of lots was in question—in one case a seller was under indictment for forgery and grand larceny.—Douglas C. McGill
Douglas C. McGill3
: an expression of strong disapproval
an indictment of government policy on immigrants
She intended the film to be an indictment of the media.
… the book is a stinging indictment of American political history …—Debra Rae Cohen
Debra Rae Cohen
Examples of indictment in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
No one is surprised that Republicans asked Hegseth no hard questions — but that’s an indictment of the state of affairs in and of itself.
—S.e. Cupp, New York Daily News, 15 Jan. 2025
The former president, along with Nauta and De Oliveira, pleaded not guilty in a superseding indictment to allegedly attempting to delete surveillance footage at Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate.
—Alexander Mallin, ABC News, 15 Jan. 2025
Key Background Combs was arrested on federal charges in September and, the next day, an indictment against him was unsealed.
—Antonio Pequeño Iv, Forbes, 14 Jan. 2025
Though Smith sought to salvage the indictment, the team dismissed it entirely in November because of longstanding Justice Department policy that says sitting presidents cannot face federal prosecution.
—Alanna Durkin Richer, TIME, 14 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for indictment 
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.
S.e. Cupp, New York Daily News, 15 Jan. 2025
The former president, along with Nauta and De Oliveira, pleaded not guilty in a superseding indictment to allegedly attempting to delete surveillance footage at Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate.
—Alexander Mallin, ABC News, 15 Jan. 2025
Key Background Combs was arrested on federal charges in September and, the next day, an indictment against him was unsealed.
—Antonio Pequeño Iv, Forbes, 14 Jan. 2025
Though Smith sought to salvage the indictment, the team dismissed it entirely in November because of longstanding Justice Department policy that says sitting presidents cannot face federal prosecution.
—Alanna Durkin Richer, TIME, 14 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for indictment
Video
Video: Why Is There a 'C' in 'Indict'?
And who put it there, anyway?
Dictionary Entries Near indictment
Cite this Entry
“Indictment.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/indictment. Accessed 20 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
indictment
noun
in·dict·ment
in-ˈdīt-mənt
1
: the act or process of indicting
2
: an official written statement charging a person with a crime
Legal Definition
indictment
noun
in·dict·ment
in-ˈdīt-mənt
1
: the action or the legal process of indicting
2
a
: a formal written statement framed by a prosecuting authority and found by a grand jury that charges a person or persons with an offense compare complaint, information
b
: bill of indictment at bill 3b
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share