indicted
B2Formal, Legal, News/Media
Definition
Meaning
Formally accused of a serious crime by a legal body (grand jury).
Used more broadly to mean 'formally accused or charged with wrongdoing' in non-legal contexts, often with a critical or moral tone.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The term implies a formal, official accusation, not a conviction. It originates from the legal system but is used metaphorically. It carries a strong connotation of serious, often public, wrongdoing.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The legal process of indictment (via grand jury) is far more common in the US federal and state systems. In the UK, the term is used but serious criminal charges are more often initiated by a prosecutor without a grand jury.
Connotations
In the US, 'indicted' is a major news event tied to specific legal procedure. In the UK, it may sound slightly more archaic or specifically tied to certain high-level offences.
Frequency
Significantly higher frequency in American English due to the prevalence of the grand jury system.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Someone] was indicted [by a grand jury/authority][Someone] was indicted on charges of [crime][Someone] was indicted for [crime/doing something]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “The long arm of the law finally reached him; he was indicted.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare, except in cases of corporate fraud: 'The CFO was indicted for embezzlement.'
Academic
Used in legal, political science, or historical texts discussing criminal procedure or political scandals.
Everyday
Almost exclusively in news consumption: 'Did you hear the mayor was indicted?'
Technical
Precise legal term for the formal initiation of a felony prosecution in jurisdictions using grand juries.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The Crown Prosecution Service decided to indict him for perjury, a rare move.
- He could be indicted under the ancient statute.
American English
- The grand jury indicted the former governor on three counts of fraud.
- She was indicted by a federal court for tax evasion.
adverb
British English
- N/A (No standard adverbial form from 'indicted')
American English
- N/A (No standard adverbial form from 'indicted')
adjective
British English
- The indicted peer will appear before the Crown Court next month.
- He was the only indicted member of the group.
American English
- The indicted senator has pleaded not guilty.
- All indicted individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The businessman was indicted for stealing money.
- It was in the news; a famous person was indicted.
- After a lengthy investigation, the CEO was indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of securities fraud.
- The report was so damning that many felt it should lead to someone being indicted.
- Despite being indicted on multiple corruption charges, he maintained his innocence and vowed to fight the allegations in court.
- The special prosecutor's decision not to indict the official was met with widespread public criticism.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the 'dict' in 'indicted' as related to 'dictate' or 'say officially' – a grand jury officially says/declares you are accused.
Conceptual Metaphor
WRONGDOING IS A BURDEN/WEIGHT (to be charged/indicted with a crime). ACCUSATION IS A FORMAL DOCUMENT (the indictment).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'индексированный' (indexed).
- It is not a direct equivalent of 'обвинённый' in all contexts; 'обвинённый' is more general (charged/accused), while 'indicted' is a specific formal procedure.
- Avoid using it for minor accusations or informal blame.
Common Mistakes
- Misspelling as 'indited'.
- Using it interchangeably with 'convicted'.
- Using it in informal contexts where 'accused' or 'blamed' would be more natural.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary meaning of 'indicted'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. An indictment is a formal accusation, not a conviction. It means there is enough evidence to charge someone and bring them to trial. The person remains innocent until proven guilty in court.
In the U.S., an 'indictment' is a specific type of formal charge issued by a grand jury. A 'charge' can be filed directly by a prosecutor (information). In general usage, 'indicted' is often used for more serious, formal accusations.
Yes, in many legal systems, corporations can be indicted or charged with crimes, leading to fines, penalties, or other consequences.
No, it is far less common than in American English. British news might use 'charged' or 'prosecuted' more frequently, reserving 'indicted' for specific legal contexts or reporting on US events.