arraigned: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal / Legal
Quick answer
What does “arraigned” mean?
To be formally charged with a crime in court, before a judge.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To be formally charged with a crime in court, before a judge.
To be formally accused, criticized, or called to account for perceived wrongdoing or a fault.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. The process and legal phrasing of arraignment are identical in common law systems.
Connotations
Strongly associated with formal legal proceedings in both varieties.
Frequency
Equal frequency in formal/legal contexts; rare in casual speech in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “arraigned” in a Sentence
[sb] is arraigned on [charge(s)] (for [crime])[sb] is arraigned in [court][sb] is arraigned before [judge/magistrate]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “arraigned” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He will be arraigned at the Crown Court next week.
- The defendant was arraigned on two counts of fraud.
American English
- She was arraigned in federal court this morning.
- The suspect is scheduled to be arraigned on Tuesday.
adjective
British English
- The newly arraigned prisoner entered a plea.
- Information on the arraigned individual is not yet public.
American English
- The arraigned defendant requested a public defender.
- The judge set bail for the arraigned suspect.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Metaphorical: 'The CEO was arraigned by shareholders for the company's poor performance.'
Academic
Used in legal, historical, and political science texts discussing judicial processes.
Everyday
Very rare in casual conversation. Used when discussing serious news stories about crime.
Technical
Core term in legal proceedings. Refers to the specific court hearing where charges are read and a plea is entered.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “arraigned”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “arraigned”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “arraigned”
- Using 'arraigned' to mean simply 'arrested'.
- Using it in an overly casual context.
- Incorrect spelling: 'arrained', 'arraged'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. An arraignment is one of the first steps in a criminal case where the charges are read and a plea (guilty/not guilty) is entered. It comes long before a verdict.
Yes, but it is a formal, metaphorical extension. It means to be called to account or harshly criticized, as if in a court (e.g., 'arraigned in the press').
An indictment is the formal written accusation (often by a grand jury). An arraignment is the court hearing where that indictment (or other charging document) is presented to the defendant.
It is the past tense and past participle of the verb 'to arraign'. It can also function as an adjective (e.g., 'the arraigned defendant').
To be formally charged with a crime in court, before a judge.
Arraigned is usually formal / legal in register.
Arraigned: in British English it is pronounced /əˈreɪnd/, and in American English it is pronounced /əˈreɪnd/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “arraigned in the court of public opinion”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: ARRAIGNED sounds like 'arranged' for court. The suspect was ARRANGED/ARRAIGNED to appear before the judge.
Conceptual Metaphor
JUSTICE IS A THEATRICAL PERFORMANCE (arraigned on the stage of the court). ACCOUNTABILITY IS A LEGAL TRIAL (arraigned by critics).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary meaning of 'arraigned'?