true bill
C2Legal, Formal
Definition
Meaning
A formal legal document, issued by a grand jury after reviewing evidence, stating that there is sufficient cause to bring a criminal case to trial against an accused person.
Informally, can refer to any formal accusation or certification of validity, though this usage is rare outside legal contexts.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
"True bill" is a fixed legal term. It is the opposite of "no bill" or "ignoramus," where a grand jury finds insufficient evidence. The term is primarily used as a noun phrase.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is used in both the UK (though less commonly today in England and Wales, where grand juries have been abolished for most purposes) and the US legal systems. In the US, it remains a current and active part of criminal procedure.
Connotations
In both contexts, it carries the formal, serious weight of a legal indictment. In modern British English, its use might be perceived as archaic or historical outside specific surviving procedures (e.g., in some jurisdictions for certain official accusations).
Frequency
Much more frequent in contemporary American English due to the active use of grand juries.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
The grand jury returned a true bill.The prosecutor presented evidence for a true bill.Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “(not applicable as term is itself a fixed legal idiom)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Found in historical, criminological, or legal academic texts discussing criminal procedure.
Everyday
Extremely rare; only used when discussing specific legal news.
Technical
Core, precise term in Anglo-American criminal law procedure.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- (Rare/Archaic) The grand jury may true-bill the accused based on the evidence presented.
American English
- (Technical) The grand jury voted to true-bill the suspect on charges of fraud.
adverb
British English
- (Not applicable)
American English
- (Not applicable)
adjective
British English
- (Not standard as a standalone adjective) The true bill process is a historical legal mechanism.
American English
- (Not standard as a standalone adjective) A true bill indictment is required for the felony to proceed.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- (Not applicable for A2 level)
- (Not applicable for B1 level)
- The news reported that the grand jury issued a true bill against the former official.
- Without a true bill, the prosecutor cannot bring the case to trial.
- After three days of testimony, the grand jury returned a true bill, indicting the corporation on multiple counts of environmental violation.
- The defence attorney argued that the evidence was insufficient for a true bill, but the jury found otherwise.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a 'bill' as a formal document. If a grand jury finds it 'true' (based on probable cause), it becomes a 'true bill' and the case proceeds.
Conceptual Metaphor
LEGAL VALIDATION IS A STAMP OF TRUTH (The 'true' stamps the bill as valid and factual enough to proceed).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not translate literally as "правдивый счёт". It is a set legal term. The closest conceptual equivalent is "постановление о предании суду" or "обвинительное заключение (утверждённое большим жюри)".
Common Mistakes
- Using it as a verb (e.g., 'They true-billed him').
- Confusing it with a regular 'bill' (invoice or proposed law).
- Using it outside a formal legal context.
Practice
Quiz
What is the direct legal consequence of a 'true bill'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. A true bill is only an accusation, not a conviction. It means a grand jury believes there is enough evidence for a trial. Guilt is determined at trial by a trial jury or judge.
It would sound very unusual and out of place unless you are specifically discussing a point of criminal law procedure. In everyday talk, people say 'indictment' or 'formal charges'.
If a grand jury does not return a true bill, it returns a 'no bill' (or 'ignoramus'). This means the charges are dismissed, and the accused is released unless other charges apply.
Its use in contemporary UK law is very limited, as the grand jury system was largely abolished in England and Wales in 1933 and in Northern Ireland in 1969. It may appear in historical contexts or in specific surviving procedures elsewhere in the Commonwealth.