a formal written charge of crime formerly referred to and presented on oath by a grand jury any formal accusation of crime the act of indicting or the state of being indicted
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025
in•dict•ment /ɪnˈdaɪtmənt/USA pronunciation
n. a statement or sign that something is wrong, etc.:[countable]The fact that so many children still can't read is a serious indictment. See -dict-.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025- a formal charge of a crime: [countable]The judge handed down an indictment.[uncountable]The criminal is now under indictment.
in•dict•ment
(in dīt′mənt),USA pronunciation n.
- an act of indicting.
- [Law.]a formal accusation initiating a criminal case, presented by a grand jury and usually required for felonies and other serious crimes.
- any charge, accusation, serious criticism, or cause for blame.
- the state of being indicted.
- Anglo-French (see indite)
- 1275–1325; indict + -ment; replacing Middle English enditement
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
'indictment' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
arraign
- bill of indictment
- blanket
- charge
- count
- find
- grand jury
- ignore
- indictable
- indite
- mute
- presentment
- quash
- sheriff court
- true bill