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acquit

uh-KWIT /əˈkwɪt/

verbB2SATGRETOEFL

formallegal

To formally declare someone not guilty of a specific criminal charge in a court of law.

Focuses strictly on the legal failure to prove guilt beyond reasonable doubt; it does not necessarily prove innocence.

The story behind the word. The word traces back to Anglo-Norman French 'aquiter' and Latin 'adquitare', meaning 'to settle a debt' or 'make quiet'. In medieval law, acquitting someone meant releasing them from an obligation or charge so their legal status became peaceful once again.

Word relationships

clear: 'Clear' is more general and informal, whereas 'acquit' is a formal legal ruling.
exonerate: 'Exonerate' implies removing all blame and proving actual innocence, while 'acquit' is a formal legal verdict of 'not guilty'.

convict: 'Convict' means to formally declare someone guilty in court.

Commonly confused with

exonerate: Acquittal is a procedural verdict due to lack of proof; exoneration fully restores reputation by clearing suspicion.

Word family

acquittal (noun): A judgment that a person is not guilty of the crime with which they have been charged.

Collocations

acquit on all charges
acquit the defendant
jury decides to acquit

Idioms & expressions

acquit oneself well (perform admirably in a challenging situation)

Example sentences

"The jury took less than two hours to acquit the defendant on all counts due to insufficient physical evidence." Courtroom reporting
"If it doesn't fit, you must acquit." Historical trial citation

Memory hook

Think of 'QUIT': when the court acquits you, you get to quit the trial and go home. AcQUIT = get to QUIT the courtroom free.

When not to use

Do not use when someone is proven completely innocent from the start; use exonerate instead.

Fun facts

In everyday non-legal English, you can 'acquit yourself well', meaning you performed admirably under pressure.