arrestee: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, Legal, Journalistic
Quick answer
What does “arrestee” mean?
A person who has been arrested by law enforcement.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A person who has been arrested by law enforcement.
A person who is in legal custody following an arrest, regardless of whether formal charges have been filed. The term focuses on the legal status of being under arrest.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. Both use the term in legal and journalistic contexts.
Connotations
Neutral and procedural in both varieties. Slightly more formal than 'person arrested'.
Frequency
Equally common in legal reporting in both the UK and US. Slightly more frequent in American police procedural contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “arrestee” in a Sentence
The police read the rights to the arrestee.The arrestee was processed at the station.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “arrestee” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The police will arrest the suspect.
- He was arrested on suspicion of theft.
American English
- Officers arrested the individual at the scene.
- She was arrested for driving under the influence.
adverb
British English
- [No direct adverbial form from 'arrestee']
American English
- [No direct adverbial form from 'arrestee']
adjective
British English
- The arresting officer must follow procedure.
- He was placed under arrest.
American English
- The arresting officer read him his rights.
- She is currently under arrest.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in corporate security or legal compliance reports.
Academic
Used in criminology, law, and sociology papers discussing arrest procedures and rights.
Everyday
Uncommon in casual speech; 'person who was arrested' is more typical.
Technical
Standard term in legal documents, police reports, and news journalism.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “arrestee”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “arrestee”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “arrestee”
- Misspelling as 'arrester' (which is the police officer).
- Using it in informal contexts where 'the person they arrested' is more natural.
- Pronouncing it as /ˈærɛsti/ instead of /əˌrɛsˈtiː/.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. An 'arrestee' is someone who has been arrested. A 'convict' is someone who has been found guilty of a crime in court. An arrestee may not be charged or convicted.
It is quite formal. In casual speech, phrases like 'the person they arrested' or 'the one who got arrested' are more common and natural.
The standard plural is 'arrestees'.
No. 'Arrestee' is a gender-neutral noun. It applies to any person who has been arrested, regardless of gender.
A person who has been arrested by law enforcement.
Arrestee is usually formal, legal, journalistic in register.
Arrestee: in British English it is pronounced /əˌrɛsˈtiː/, and in American English it is pronounced /əˌrɛsˈtiː/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No common idioms specific to 'arrestee']”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the suffix '-ee' as in 'employee' (one who is employed) or 'trainee' (one who is trained). An 'arrestee' is one who is arrested.
Conceptual Metaphor
LEGAL PROCESS IS A CONTAINER (The arrestee is placed *in* custody).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary meaning of 'arrestee'?