indict
in-DYTE
/ɪnˈdaɪt/
To formally accuse or charge someone with a serious crime through a grand jury or legal authority.
Indict specifically refers to a formal charge brought by a grand jury; it does not mean finding someone guilty.
The story behind the word. The word enters English via Old French enditer and Latin indicere (to proclaim). The silent 'c' was inserted by Renaissance scholars to mirror the classical Latin dictare (to speak), creating the modern spelling 'indict' while preserving the English pronunciation 'in-DYTE'.
Word relationships
- charge: Charge is broader and can be made directly by police without a grand jury.
- arraign: Arraign means bringing the defendant into court to hear the charges and enter a plea.
- exonerate: Exonerate means to clear completely of blame or charge.
- acquit: Acquit means to formally declare a defendant not guilty at trial.
Commonly confused with
- indite: Indite is an archaic word meaning to compose or write.
Word family
- indictment (noun): A formal charge or accusation of a serious crime.
- indictable (adjective): Rendering a person liable to be indicted.
Collocations
- grand jury indicts
- indict on charges of
- vote to indict
Example sentences
- "A federal grand jury voted to indict the executive on charges of wire fraud." Legal News
- "The special prosecutor announced plans to indict three former officials involved in the cover-up." Historical Record
Memory hook
Think 'in dictation'—the jury dictates the official legal charge in court. Silent 'c', loud charge: to indict is to formally charge.
When not to use
Do not use for informal personal complaints or casual disagreements outside legal context.
Fun facts
- Despite containing 'dict' like dictate, 'indict' is pronounced with a long 'I' sound, rhyming with 'polite'.
Related words
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