arraign
C2 (low frequency, formal/legal)Formal, legal, literary
Definition
Meaning
To formally charge someone with a crime in a court of law.
To call someone before a court to answer a charge; to accuse or criticize someone publicly and severely.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The word implies a formal, public, and often serious accusation. While its primary use is legal, it can be used figuratively to mean 'to call to account' or 'to criticize severely' in a non-legal context.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. The word is used in both legal systems with the same core definition.
Connotations
Highly formal, serious, and procedural. It evokes the gravitas of a courtroom.
Frequency
Equally low frequency in both varieties, confined to formal, legal, or high-register contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[S] arraign [O] (for [crime/offence])[S] be arraigned (on [charge])Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “arraign someone at the bar of public opinion (figurative)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Might be used figuratively in very formal reports about corporate misconduct, e.g., 'The CEO was arraigned by shareholders for mismanagement.'
Academic
Used in legal, historical, and political science texts discussing judicial processes.
Everyday
Virtually never used in casual conversation. Its use would sound deliberately dramatic or ironic.
Technical
Core term in legal proceedings, specifically for the formal reading of charges in court.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The suspect will be arraigned at the Crown Court next Tuesday.
- The barrister sought to arraign the witness for contempt of court.
American English
- The defendant was arraigned on charges of fraud in a federal court.
- The editorial arraigned the entire city council for its failure to act.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The man was arrested and will soon be arraigned in court.
- The journalist's article arraigned the company's environmental record.
- Prior to the trial, the accused must be formally arraigned and enter a plea.
- The philosopher's work arraigns modern society for its loss of spiritual values.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'A RAIN of accusations falls on the person being ARRAIGNed in court.'
Conceptual Metaphor
JUSTICE IS A THEATRICAL PERFORMANCE (arraign is the formal opening act where the charge is declared).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'обвинять' (to accuse) in a general sense. 'Arraign' is a specific, formal stage in a legal process, closer to 'привлекать к суду' or 'предъявлять formalное обвинение в суде'.
Common Mistakes
- Using it as a general synonym for 'blame' or 'criticize'.
- Confusing it with 'arrange'.
- Incorrect preposition: 'arraign with a crime' (correct: 'arraign for a crime' or 'arraign on a charge').
Practice
Quiz
In its most precise and common usage, 'arraign' refers to:
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Primarily, yes. Its core meaning is the formal legal act. However, it can be used figuratively in formal writing to mean 'to call to account' or 'to censure severely'.
All are stages. 'Charge' is the broadest (police/prosecutor level). 'Indict' is a formal accusation by a grand jury (common in US). 'Arraign' is the subsequent formal court hearing where the accused is read the charge and enters a plea.
In a strictly literal sense, no. It requires a judicial or quasi-judicial authority. Figuratively, you can say someone was 'arraigned by the press' or 'arraigned by history,' meaning subjected to severe public criticism or judgment.
Arraignment. (e.g., 'The arraignment lasted only ten minutes.')