impeach
C1Formal, Legal, Political
Definition
Meaning
to formally accuse a public official of a serious crime or misconduct while in office.
To challenge or cast doubt upon the credibility, validity, or integrity of someone or something (e.g., 'impeach a witness' in court).
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The core legal process does not equate to removal from office; it is the formal accusation that precedes a trial. In extended non-legal use, it means to cast doubt on credibility.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The process is very rare in UK parliamentary history, last used in 1806. It is a more established, though still infrequent, part of the US constitutional system against the President, federal judges, etc.
Connotations
In the US, the term is heavily loaded with political and constitutional significance. In the UK, it is a largely historical relic.
Frequency
Far more frequent in American English due to its active role in the US Constitution and modern political discourse.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] impeached [Object] for [Offence/Crime] (e.g., Congress impeached the president for abuse of power).[Subject] impeached [Object] (e.g., The House may impeach a federal judge).Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A political hot potato”
- “On trial (in the court of public opinion)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Could be used metaphorically: 'The shareholders sought to impeach the CEO's credibility.'
Academic
Used in political science, law, and history to describe constitutional processes.
Everyday
Rare in casual conversation, except when discussing major political events.
Technical
Specific legal term in constitutional and parliamentary law.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- Parliament has the power to impeach ministers for high crimes.
- The opposition called for proceedings to impeach the chancellor.
American English
- The House of Representatives voted to impeach the president.
- Defence lawyers sought to impeach the witness's testimony.
adverb
British English
- The minister was unimpeachably honest in his financial dealings.
- Her record was unimpeachably clean.
American English
- The witness testified unimpeachably, leaving no room for doubt.
- His credentials are unimpeachably solid.
adjective
British English
- The impeachable offences were listed in the motion.
- His conduct was deemed not impeachable under the statute.
American English
- 'High crimes and misdemeanours' is the standard for impeachable conduct.
- The legal team argued the action was not an impeachable offense.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The news reported that some politicians want to impeach the leader.
- In history class, we learned about leaders who were impeached.
- The committee will investigate whether there are grounds to impeach the judge.
- A successful impeachment requires a majority vote in the legislature.
- The articles of impeachment detailed charges of perjury and obstruction of justice.
- The senator argued that mere policy differences did not constitute an impeachable offence.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'IMP each' - as if each member of parliament (or congress) must agree to formally accuse an important person.
Conceptual Metaphor
GOVERNMENT IS A LEGAL TRIAL; CREDIBILITY IS A STRUCTURE (to impeach is to attack the foundations).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating as 'обвинять' for simple accusations; it is a specific, formal procedure. Not equivalent to 'отстранить от должности' (to remove from office), which is a separate step after impeachment.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'impeach' to mean 'remove from office' (e.g., 'The president was impeached and removed' - removal is a separate outcome).
- Using it for non-official contexts incorrectly (e.g., 'I impeach my friend for being late' is wrong).
Practice
Quiz
In the US constitutional system, what is the direct result of a successful impeachment by the House of Representatives?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Impeachment is the formal accusation, like an indictment in criminal law. Removal from office occurs only if the official is convicted in the subsequent trial (e.g., in the US Senate).
No. Impeachment is a process reserved for public officials, typically high-ranking ones like presidents, ministers, or judges.
Primarily, yes. Its most common use is political/legal. A secondary legal use is 'to impeach a witness,' meaning to challenge their credibility in court.
The noun is 'impeachment' (the process or act of impeaching). The related adjective is 'impeachable' (deserving impeachment).